"Aweel, me leddy, ye maun just hope that he will intervene. Na, na, dinna greet sae sairly!" the good woman entreated, for Claudia had burst into a flood of tears, and was weeping bitterly. This refreshed her spirit and cleared her brain. Presently, wiping her eyes and looking up, she said: "Mrs. Murdock, I cannot meet those wretches at breakfast. Send me some coffee; and order the carriage to be at the door in an hour; also send Sally, who must be at hand by this time, to help me pack." The dame went on this errand, and after a short absence returned, bringing Claudia's breakfast on a tray. "Where is Sally?" inquired Lady Vincent, as the housekeeper arranged the breakfast on a little table. "She hanna come yet, me leddy," said the housekeeper, who remained and waited on Lady Vincent at breakfast. Claudia could eat but little. To all her own sources of trouble was now added alarm, on account of Sally. What if the hapless girl had shared old Katie's fate? was the question that now began to torture her. "Have you seen my footman this morning, Mrs. Murdock?" she inquired. "Nae, me leddy; the lad aye gaes to Banff for the mail about this hour." "When he comes send him to me at once. And now please take the service away. And when you go downstairs institute a search for my maid. And do you, if you can do so conveniently, return and help me to pack." "Aye, me leddy," replied the woman, as she lifted the tray and carried it away. In a few minutes she returned and assisted Lady Vincent to fill one large trunk. "That is all I shall take with me. I shall leave the remainder of my wardrobe in your care, Mrs. Murdock, and I must request you to see them packed and sent on to Edinboro', where I shall stop before deciding on my future steps," said Lady Vincent. "Aye, me leddy; ye may be sure I will do a' in my power to serve your leddyship." "And now pray see if Jim has returned from the post office." Mrs. Murdock went; but returned with startling news: "The lad Jamie has na got back, me leddy; and it e'en appears that he has na gane. I just asked ane o' the stable lads what time it was when Jamie took the horse to gang to the post office, and the lad said that Jamie had na come for the horse at a'!" Claudia sprang up and gazed at the speaker in consternation; and then sunk down in her chair, and covered her face with her hands and groaned. "Dinna do that, me leddy--dinna do that!" "Oh, Mrs. Murdock! don't leave me! don't lose sight of me, or I shall vanish too; swallowed up in this great ruin!" she cried, with a shudder. There was a rap at the door. Mrs. Murdock opened it. Lord Vincent's footman stood there. "My lord sends his compliments to my lady, and says that the carriage is waiting to take her from the castle; the tide is rising, which will render the road impassable for several hours; and he hopes she will take that fact into consideration and not delay her departure."