The foster-sisters

by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

The next day, Amabel was decidedly better, and on the third she was able to sit up. Sir Julius began to talk of returning to Edinburgh, though, as I thought, not with any particular enthusiasm, when news arrived which changed all his plans.

Old Robert came riding posthaste with letters from Mrs. Deborah, and startling letter's they were. The Hall had taken fire a few days after we left it and was almost entirely destroyed. No one had been hurt, but my lady had disappeared, and it was believed that she had perished in the flames.

[CHAPTER XXVI.]

THE END.

MRS. DEBORAH'S letters contained a detailed account of the catastrophe.

"Wilson, who has been here since the fire, says that her lady was like a distracted woman when she missed her step-daughter and discovered that she was nowhere concealed in the house. No one could imagine how she had escaped, as there was no door left unfastened to Amabel's room. Even when they discovered the door of communication with the haunted room, they had no thought of her escaping in that way, as both it and that leading to the secret stairs were fastened on the other side and could hardly be broken open.
"The servants did not scruple to declare that their young lady had been spirited away, and they so threatened the French waiting-woman that she was glad to take refuge in her mistress' apartment. There had been a terrible scene between Lord Bulmer and Lady Leighton when it was at last made certain that Amabel was neither at Highbeck nor at the Little House. He accused Lady Leighton of playing him false and conniving at the young lady's escape, and she wept and declared her innocence and begged him to have pity on her; but he at last, flung away from her, leaving her grovelling on the ground, mounted his horse, and followed by his servants, rode away to Newcastle."

This was Wilson's account. How she gained her knowledge I don't know, but she was not likely to lack any which could be got by eavesdropping or peeping through key-holes.

"My lady was very ill for two or three days, and Wilson waited on her, the other woman not daring to come in the way of her fellow servants. At last Lady Leighton received a letter which seemed to calm her spirits a little, and she told Wilson in the evening to go to bed and leave her, as she felt like having a quiet night. At about two o'clock, Wilson was awakened by the smoke and heat, and hurrying down found her lady's room wrapped in flames. She searched it at the risk of her life, and at the expense of some terrible burns, but could find nothing of her mistress. The servants and such men as were left about the place worked like heroes, and Mr. Lethbridge specially distinguished himself by his coolness and daring, but a high wind was blowing and the flames defied all their efforts. The servants all escaped except the French woman, who, like her mistress, could not be found. No bodies had been discovered, but the east wing had fallen in, and they might be buried under the ruins."
"I cannot help thinking there may be another solution of the matter," Mrs. Deborah wrote in a private note to me; "but I have never hinted at such a thing to my brother in the letters I have sent him, nor have I mentioned it to Wilson, who, poor creature, is about distracted with grief for her mistress, for whom she risked her life. She rushed into the building again and again, and Mr. Lethbridge hardly rescued her just before the walls fell in. The silver, the family paper-chest, and some few other things, were saved by Richard and the other men. A part of the west wing is all that is left of Highbeck."

There was no more talk of returning to Edinburgh. Sir Julius at once took horse for Northumberland, accompanied, at Amabel's own desire, by Mr. Cheriton. She was now out of all danger, and gaining every day. Sir Julius thought of nothing but that his wife had indeed perished, and no one was so cruel as to suggest any thing else to him, especially as, the ruins being explored, the charred remains of a skeleton were indeed found beneath them. Mr. Cheriton, who was not quite so certain, made inquiries of his own, but could learn nothing beyond the fact that Lord Bulmer had gone abroad, intending, it was said, to remain some years, and taking no one with him but a young French servant whom he had hired in London.