The Midnight Queen

"Your secret shall be preserved at the risk of my life," said Sir

Norman, laying his hand on the left side of his doublet; "and in return,

may I ask if you have any relatives living--any sisters for instance?"

"I see I you have a suspicion that the lady in white may be a sister of

mine. Well, you may set your mind at rest on that point--for if she is,

it is news to me, as I never saw her in my life before tonight. Is she a

particular friend of yours, Sir Norman?"

"Never you mind that, my dear boy; but take my advice, and don't trouble

yourself looking for her; for, most assuredly, if you find her, I shall

break your head!"

"Much obliged," said Hubert, touching his cap, "but nevertheless, I

shall risk it. She had the plague, though, when she jumped into the

river, and perhaps the beat place to find her world be the pest-house. I

shall try."

"Go, and Heaven speed you! Yonder is the way to it, and my road lies

here. Good night, master Hubert."

"Good night, Sir Norman," responded the page, bowing airily; "and if I

do not find the lady to-night, most assuredly I shall do so to-morrow."

Turning along a road leading to the pest-house, and laughing as he

went, the boy disappeared. Fearing lest the page should follow him, and

thereby discover a clue to Leoline's abode, Sir Norman turned into a

street some distance from the house, and waited in the shadow until he

was out of sight. Then he came forth, and, full of impatience to get

back to the ruin, hurried on to where he had left his horse. He was

still in the care of the watchman, whom he repaid for his trouble; and

as he sprang on his back, he glanced up at the windows of Leoline's

house. It was all buried in profound darkness but that one window from

which that faint light streamed, and he knew that she had not yet gone

to rest. For a moment he lingered and looked at it in the absurd way

lovers will look, and was presently rewarded by seeing what he watched

for--a shadow flit between him and the light. The sight was a strong

temptation to him to dismount and enter, and, under pretence of warning

her against the Earl of Rochester and his "pretty page," see her

once again. But reflection, stepping rebukingly up to him, whispered

indignantly, that his ladylove was probably by this time in her night

robe, and not at home to lovers; and Sir Norman respectfully bowed to

reflection's superior wisdom. He thought of Hubert's words, "If I do

not find her tonight, I shall most assuredly to-morrow," and a chill

presentiment of coming evil fell upon him.