On his
appearing again so unexpectedly, they declared their joy; but the young
lord, impatient to calm the apprehensions of his cousin, returned no
other answer than "Follow me!" while he darted forward. Terror had
given her wings, and even prevented her hearing the low sounds of
Murray's voice, which he durst not raise to a higher pitch, for fear of
being overheard by the enemy. Thus, while she lost all presence of
mind, he did not come up with her till she fell breathless against he
stairs at the extremity of the vault.
Chapter X.
St. Fillan's.
As soon as Murray found her within his arms, he clasped her insensible
form to his breast, and carrying her up the steps, drew the bolt of the
door. It opened to his pressure, and discovered a large monastic cell,
into which the daylight shone through one long narrow window. A straw
pallet, an altar, and a marble basin, were the furniture. The cell was
solitary the owner being then at mass in the chapel of the monastery.
Murray laid down his death-like burden on the monk's bed. He then
ventured (believing, as it was to restore so pure a being to life, it
could not be sacrilege) to throw some of the holy water upon his
cousin's face; and by means of a little chalice, which stood upon the
altar, he poured some into her mouth.
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