"At once," replied Donal.
She went to get a shawl.
Donal went to the gardener's tool-house, and found a suitable cord.
There was a seven-pound weight, but that would not pass the wires!
He remembered an old eight-day clock on a back stair, which was
never going. He got out its heavier weight, and carried it, with the
cord and the ladder, to his own stair--at the foot of which was lady
Arctura--waiting for him.
There was that in being thus associated with the lovely lady; in
knowing that peace had began to visit her through him, that she
trusted him implicitly, looking to him for help and even protection;
in knowing that nothing but wrong to her could be looked for from
uncle or cousin, and that he held what might be a means of
protecting her, should undue influence be brought to bear upon
her--there was that in all this, I say, that stirred to its depth
the devotion of Donal's nature. With the help of God he would foil
her enemies, and leave her a free woman--a thing well worth a man's
life! Many an angel has been sent on a smaller errand!
Such were his thoughts as he followed Arctura up the stair, she
carrying the weight and the cord, he the ladder, which it was not
easy to get round the screw of the stair. Arctura trembled with
excitement as she ascended, grew frightened as often as she found
she had outstripped him, waited till the end of the ladder came
poking round, and started again before the bearer appeared.
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