The bartizan is the only anxious place, but as I mean to
take Davie with me, you may think I do not count it very dangerous!"
"Will it be safe for Davie?"
"I can venture more with Davie than with another: he obeys in a
moment."
"I will obey too if you will take me," said Arctura.
"Then, please, come to the schoolroom at four o'clock. But we shall
not go except the wind be fallen."
When Davie heard what his tutor proposed, he was filled with the
restlessness of anticipation. Often while helping Donal with his
fuel, he had gazed up at him on the roof with longing eyes, but
Donal had never let him go upon it.
CHAPTER XLI.
THE MUSIC-NEST.
The hour came, and with the very stroke of the clock, lady Arctura
and Davie were in the schoolroom. A moment more, and they set out to
climb the spiral of Baliol's tower.
But what a different lady was Arctura this afternoon! She was
cheerful, even merry--with Davie, almost jolly. Her soul had many
alternating lights and glooms, but it was seldom or never now so
clouded as when first Donal saw her. In the solitude of her chamber,
where most the simple soul should be conscious of life as a
blessedness, she was yet often haunted by ghastly shapes of fear;
but there also other forms had begun to draw nigh to her; sweetest
rays of hope would ever and anon break through the clouds, and mock
the darkness from her presence.
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