"
"One thing I desire to learn most of all, Father; the rest can wait.
Who is the sick lady of whom you spoke to yonder physician--she that, he
thought, was your grand-daughter?"
"Who could it be, Hugh, except Eve Clavering."
"Eve!" gasped Hugh. "Eve dying of the pest?"
"Nay, son: who said so? She is ill, not dying, who, I believe, will live
for many years."
"You believe, Father, you believe! Why this foul plague scarce spares
one in ten. Oh! why do you believe?"
"God teaches me to do so," answered the old knight solemnly. "I only
sent for that physician because he has medicines which I lack. But it is
not in him and his drugs that I put my trust. Come, let us go in and see
her."
So they went up the stairs and turned down a long passage, into which
the light flowed dimly through large open casements.
"Who is that?" asked Hugh suddenly. "I thought that one brushed past me,
though I could see nothing."
"Ay," broke in the lad David, who was following, "and I felt a cold wind
as though some one stirred the air."
Grey Dick also opened his lips to speak, then changed his mind and was
silent, but Sir Andrew said impatiently:
"I saw no one, therefore there was no one to see. Enter!" and he opened
the door.
Now they found themselves in a lighted room, beyond which lay another
room.
"Bide you here, Richard, with your companion," said Sir Andrew.
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