"What do you know of Mrs. Dugald that you should say so?" was Claudia's cold question. For alas, poor lady, she was in sad straits! She had need to glean knowledge of her dangerous enemy from every possible quarter; but--she felt that she must do so without committing herself, or compromising her dignity. "Nay, I ken naething! I dinna like the quean! that's all!" said the woman, growing all at once reserved. "She is the widow of the late Honorable Kenneth Dugald?" said Claudia, in a tone that might be received either as a statement or a question. "Sae it is said. I ken naething anent it," replied the dame, taking up the tray of empty cups. "Will your leddyship ha' anything more?" "No, thank you, Mrs. Murdock," replied Claudia, in a very sweet tone, for she felt that in her pride of place she had repulsed the offered confidence of an honest old creature who might have been of great use to her. "Will I sit wi' your leddyship?" inquired the dame. "No, I am much obliged to you. I must rest now; but I should be glad if you would come to me later in the day." "Yes, me leddy," answered the dame, somewhat mollified, as she courtesied and withdrew from the room, leaving Lady Vincent to the care of her own faithful servant. CHAPTER XIX. CLAUDIA'S TROUBLES AND PERILS. Like love in a worldly breast Alone in my lady's chamber The lamp burns low, suppressed 'Mid satins of broidered amber Where she lies, sore distressed. My lady here alone May think till her heart is broken Of the love that is dead and done, Of the day that with no token For evermore hath gone. --_Owen Meredith._ All day long Claudia lay abed within her darkened chamber, It was a scene of magnificence, luxury, and repose. Scarcely a ray of light stole through the folds of the golden-brown curtains of window and bed. No sound broke the stillness of the air, except the dull, monotonous thunder of the sea upon the rocks below. This at length soothed her nervous excitement and lulled her to repose. She slept until the evening, and awoke comparatively free from pain. Her first thought on waking was of the housekeeper, and her first feeling was the desire to see the old creature, and if possible make a friend of her. Ah! but it was bitterly galling to Lady Vincent's pride to be obliged to stoop to the degradation of questioning a servant concerning the domestic affairs of her own husband's family! But she felt that her life and honor were imperiled, and that she must use such means for her safety as circumstances offered. Mrs. Murdock impressed her as being an honest, truthful, and trustworthy woman. And Claudia wished to discover, by what should seem casual conversation with her, how much or how little truth there might be in Lord Vincent's representations of Mrs. Dugald's position in the family. She put out her hand and rang the bell that hung just within her reach. Katie answered it.