"Just Heaven! my son's voice!" exclaimed the countess, becoming deadly pale, and feeling in her bosom for her case of reliques. "It is a spirit—a warning! It is a spirit!"
"Ten devils, lady mother! do not cry out!" implored the earl, gradually emerging from his hiding-place; "I am not yet a spirit, thank Heaven, and have no wish to be one."
"Then, oh, Archibald, how came you here?" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.
"By the window," he replied, embracing Sybil in return; "by the window, as you may see."
"And Sabrino, my poor Sabrino!"
The black sank upon his knees to kiss her hands, and then danced about the room, performing the most extravagant capers to the sound of his long clanking earrings.
"By my soul, mother, the times are sorely changed with the Setons, when my father's son comes to visit thee and his betrothed wife like a rascally stoutriever by the window instead of the door—in the night instead of the day.
"The window!" they repeated, and became speechless for a moment, as they thought of the precipice, and the water at its foot.
"Faith, very few, I believe, would have dared what Sabrino and I have dared and done—but it was for thee, mother, and thee, my life, my love, my dear Sybil!" said Ashkirk, kissing her olive cheek.
"My brave Archibald, did the power of sorcery or of Providence bring thee to this prison island?"