’Ah, men must be brave—’tis their duty!’ cried Nancy. ’And now, be wise too, and say not a word of this to a soul—not to Ally even, for her terror and indecision would discover themselves in a moment. I’ll break it to her but the night before, and carry the citadel of her conscience and her scruples by storm—sweep off with her on the wings of surprise. You arrange with the driver of the chaise: I will manage the rest.’ It was not, therefore, till practically but a few hours before the meditated flight that Alison knew of the change in store for her. She had gone to bed drowned in tears at the prospect of her friend’s departure, and in quiet despair at the conviction that now all chance of a rescue from Mr. Cheape was gone. Then Nancy came creeping up to her room in the dark on tip-toe, like the little conspirator that she was, shading the rush-light with her hand. Jacky slept beside his sister again, so their talk was in excited whispers. ’Ally,’ Nancy said, leaning over the girl, and patting her wet cheek with a little hand, ’cry no more, dear love, ’tis all arranged with your father, and in the happiest way! No horrid Mr. Cheape for you; you are free! And you come with me to Edinburgh town in the morning!’ ’I—to Edinburgh?’ whispered the startled Alison. ’To me, child, to me!’ Nancy whispered back. ’Did you think I was to part from my Ally without a blow struck for her freedom, and leave her to her fate? Oh, fie! faithless one! ’Tis your father and I have fixed it all between us; your mother knows naught. The chaise comes while she is still abed—more than an hour before she thinks—and we steal away, with your father, good man, to speed us at the gate. ’Tis quite an elopement, I declare; only I, alas! am of the wrong sex. You must rise, Ally, and put a few duds together; the laird says he will send a trunk after you to town. He has mine taken down already, so there will be no noise in the early hours. Will you come with me, Ally, and share my humble garret? ’Tis a poor thing, but mine own, and you’re thrice welcome, God knows!’ Bewilderment still reigned in Alison’s eyes and brain. ’Must I leave them all,’ she whispered, ’my sisters and Jacky—?’ ’Ay, must you,’ said Nancy, with a little not unnatural impatience, ’or stay, and be taken from them by ogre Cheape in a fortnight!’ ’In a fortnight! Was he coming so soon?’ said Alison, with a white face, and then the magnitude of her friend’s action on her behalf dawning upon her, she cried, with a half sob, ’Oh, Nancy! how can I thank you for this deliverance?’ ’Then you’ll come, Ally?’ ’Come? How can I fail?’ said Alison. ’And, Nancy, what’ll I say? But I’ll not speak, I’ll do. I’ll try with all my strength to do something that shall reward you. I’ll be your servant, anything!’