The breaking wave drenched him from head to foot: he clung to his
prize and dragged it out. A moment's bewilderment, and he came to
himself lying on the sand, his arms round a great lump of net, lost
from some fishing boat.
His illusions were gone. He was sitting in a cold wind, wet to the
skin, on the border of a wild sea. A poor, shivering, altogether
ordinary and uncomfortable mortal, he sat on the shore of the German
Ocean, from which he had rescued a tangled mass of net and seaweed!
He dragged it beyond the reach of the waves, and set out for home.
By the time he reached the castle he was quite warm. His door at the
foot of the tower was open, he crept up, and was soon fast asleep.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE HOUSEKEEPER'S ROOM.
He was not so late the next morning.
Ere he had finished his breakfast he had made up his mind that he
must beware of the earl. He was satisfied that the experiences of
the past night could not be the consequence of one glass of wine. If
he asked him again, he would go to dinner with him, but would drink
nothing but water.
School was just over when Simmons came from his lordship, to inquire
after him, and invite him to dine with him that evening. Donald
immediately consented.
This time lady Arctura was not with the earl.
After as during dinner Donal declined to drink. His lordship cast on
him a keen, searching glance, but it was only a glance, and took no
farther notice of his refusal.
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