She rang her bell a third time, and more sharply than before. After a few minutes it was answered by the housekeeper, who entered with her customary respectful courtesy. "She has not heard of last night's scandal," thought Claudia, as she noticed the dame's unaltered manner. "I have rung three times, Mrs. Murdock. Why has not my maid come up?" she inquired. "Indeed, me leddy, I dinna ken. I ha' na seen the lass the morn," answered the woman. "What! You do not mean to say that Sally has not made her appearance this morning?" "Indeed and she ha' na, me leddy." "Mrs. Murdock, pray go at once to her room and see if she is there." The housekeeper went away; and after an absence of fifteen minutes returned to say that Sally was not in her room. "But I dinna think she is far awa', me leddy; because her bed is all tumbled as if she was just out of it. And her shoes and clothes are lying there, just as she put them off." "I will dress and go and make inquiries myself. This house is a place of mysterious disappearances. I wonder if the beach below is of quicksand, and does it swallow people up alive?" "I dinna ken, me leddy," gravely answered the dame. "Mrs. Murdock, can you help me to dress?" "Surely, me leddy," said the housekeeper, approaching Claudia with so much respectful affection that the unhappy lady said once more to herself: "She knows nothing of last night's work." And then Claudia, who was much too high-spirited and sincere to receive attentions rendered by the dame in ignorance of that night's scandal which she might not have so kindly rendered had she known of them, said: "Mrs. Murdock, do you know what happened last night?" "Aye, surely, me leddy, I ken a' about it, if your leddyship means the fause witness o' that de'il Frisbie," said the housekeeper, growing red with emotion. "It was a false witness! a base, wicked, infamous calumny! I think the more highly of you, Mrs. Murdock, for so quickly detecting this. And I thank you," said Claudia, with difficulty restraining the tears, which for the first time since her great wrong were ready to burst from her eyes. "Ou, aye, me leddy! It did na require the Witch of Endor to see the truth of that business. Ye'll see I ken Laird Vincent and Frisbie and the player-quean, wha is worst o' a'! And I hanna served ye, me leddy, these twa months without keening yer ladyship as well. And sae I ken the differ, me leddy. I ken the differ---" "Oh, Mrs. Murdock, in this deep desolation I find some comfort in your faith in me!" "And sae I dinna believe a word the fause knave Frisbie says. And neither does auld Cuthbert, honest man! But wae's me, me leddy, whate'er our convictions may be, we canna disprove the lees o' yon de'il." "No, we cannot," said Claudia, with a sigh of despair; "and unless Providence intervenes to save me, I am lost."