“’Deed he got de letter, honey, caze I fotch it from de pos’ office myself dis mornin’, an’ de pos’ marser said how it war from out yonder where you gone to. But I never hear General I’on say nuffin ’bout ’spectin’ no one to de weddin’, ’deed I didn’t, honey. Let me run along to de house an’ rouse ’em all up and tell ole marse how you’ve come.” “No, by no means, Bob. Thank you, good-night,” said Dr. Hardcastle, jumping into the carriage. “All right, he has received your letter, madam; but has not imparted its contents to anyone. He is doubtless expecting you momentarily; but as no one else is, your sudden appearance would strike a panic to the household, suddenly roused up out of their sleep, or perhaps send them all shrieking from the plantation.” “But would not your presence by my side—they know you’re alive—reassure them?” “My dear Mrs. Garnet, they assisted at your funeral, twelve months ago, and seeing us enter at midnight together will sooner believe me to be a second ghost than you to be a living woman. No, my dear friend, you must veil yourself closely, and after I have got you into the house, pass quietly up to General Garnet’s chamber and reveal yourself to him. Here we are at last,” said Dr. Hardcastle, pulling up before the front door of the mansion. All was dark except a fitful light that gleamed and sunk, and gleamed and sunk, from the upper windows of General Garnet’s chamber—as if a candle was expiring there in the socket. “It must be near two o’clock—yet he is still sitting up for me—see there,” whispered Alice, pointing to the flashing and darkening light. “He must be alone, and have dropped asleep by that expiring light,” murmured Magnus, as he led her up the stairs to the front door. “Now, courage, my dear friend. Remember that in me you have a protector near you,” whispered Dr. Hardcastle, as he fumbled about in the dark for the knocker. In doing so the door swung silently open—it had evidently been left ajar. They entered noiselessly. The hall was perfectly dark and silent; no sound was heard but the moan of the wind and the heavy fall of the rain without. “Now, dearest Alice, he has evidently left the door ajar that you might enter without rousing the servants, and make your way at once to his chamber, where he awaits you. Go on—yet! stay! I do not like the looks of this thing, either. No one knows of your existence—no one knows that you were expected here; he awaits you alone in the solitude, silence, and darkness of deep night. No, Alice! I cannot let you go alone to his baleful presence—I must attend you.” “Not for the world, Magnus. What monstrous thought is in your mind? Does midnight storm and solitude raise such phantoms of fear in your strong mind?”