“And then she would stealthily draw from her bosom a small gold locket which contained a ruby heart on which was cut a simple love motto.
“She knew not who had sent it.
“It came to her in a bouquet found on the dressing table on her birthday, and was the first present she had ever received from any admirer.
“She mused and pondered, but dared not give utterance to her thoughts; yet as she passed the college gardens, and saw Lawrence walking up and down, her cheeks flushed, and bending her head more lowly than ever, she passed the buildings rapidly, and tried to stay her unnatural palpitations.
“Thus ran the wild fancies of the wounded student about his true love, when a loud knocking and rapping was heard at Lord Stoner’s door.
“‘Who or what can that be?’ thought Ashton.
“But still the knocking continued in the dead of night, and the dogs barked in all directions.
“When the hall porter opened the door, he perceived two white figures on horseback, with long, streaming hair.
“The old hall porter rushed away and hid himself, for he swore that two ghosts had arrived at the hall.
“When the truth was made known, it was discovered that the two arrivals were not ghosts at all.