"Falsely!" cried Rollo, springing to his feet. "My mother speak falsely! If you dare--" "Gently, my boy," said Annie. "We have not heard what the lady means." "Be quiet, Rollo," said Lady Carse. "Your mother speaks falsely as regards me; but I do not say that it is not after her own kind that she speaks. If God gives me to see my children, I will thank him devoutly; but there is another thing that I want more--revenge on all my enemies, and on my husband first." Rollo looked breathlessly at his mother. Her face was calm; but he could see in the dim red light its expression of infinite sorrow. She asked her son to help her to rise and go. "I came," said she to Lady Carse, "to entreat you to come among us, and rest in a spirit of surrender to God, on His clear showing that He chooses this to be your abiding place; and one reason for my coming was to tell you that the minister has brought his children, lest the sight of a child's face should move you too suddenly. But I see that your thoughts are on other things; and that your spirit of surrender has yet to be prayed for. Next Sabbath, we are to have worship once more, and--" "Where?" "In the old chapel, if it can be enclosed by that time. If not, we must wait another week: but I think it will be done. It needs but a word, madam, and the minister will ask all our prayers for one under affliction--" "By no means. I forbid you to speak of me, in one way or another, to the minister or his wife. I insist on my wishes being observed in this." "Certainly, madam. It is not for us to interfere with your plans." "Then go; go both of you: and do not come near me without my leave. I want to be alone--I want to be at rest; that is--" "Ay--at rest," said Annie, half aloud. She was thinking that there would be prayers from one heart at least in the chapel for peace to a troubled spirit. And she did not wait for the Sabbath to pray. As, assisted by her son, she painfully ascended to the heights, she saw the birds fly in and out, and hover round on the face of the precipice, as at a bidding she did not hear, she could not but silently ask that God would send His dove to harbour in the hollow of this rock with one who sorely needed a visitation of His peace. CHAPTER ELEVEN. FOLDING THE FLOCK.