The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strange Revenge. 459
fantastically towards the ceiling, after the habit of smokers
who feel on nrst-rate terms with the world and its contents.
On the other hand, his companion gazed abstractedly into
the fire, and puffed with the vehemence of a furnace at
double blast. Suddenly Richard broke the silence by
announcing that he was due at the Castle at that very
moment. The Professor did not delay his departure by
voice or gesture.
" An apt pupil," he muttered, as Richard's retreating
footsteps were heard on the gravel outside, " a most
excellent pupil ; we will resume the lesson."
Late that night an incident occurred in the existence of
Miss Somerton which made her toss restlessly in bed far
into the small hours of the morning. Not having heard
her father retire at his usual hour, she peered over the stairway
to satisfy herself that light still burned in the study.
Just then the Professor opened the door with seeming
caution, and entered the drawing-room. What could he
want there without a light ? As she asked herself the
question, there occurred a noise which she identified as the
opening and shutting of the door-window communicating
with the lawn. Then there was the cautious patter of
more than one pair of feet in the lobby, and Miss Somerton
craned her neck. She started at what she saw, and
almost betrayed
was—a woman !
her presence. Her father's companion
As the Professor held the door to allow
his visitor to pass in, the lamp light struck upon her face,
and Julia recoiled in horror at what it revealed.
What could it all mean ?—her father's midnight visitor
was none other than Elspeth the Witch !
CHAPTER VI.
THE QUARREL.
When John entered the drawing-room of the Castle on
this particular afternoon, to discharge the dinner-table pre-
liminaries, he found Mr David seated in a window recess
engrossed in a huge and antiquated-looking volume, one