She recovered her breath, opened her eyes, and looked anxiously, fearfully, all around her.

There was no one in sight anywhere.  The apparition had vanished.  Corona and her uncle were alone.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE MEETING ON THE MOUNT.

“What is this?  Am I mad?  Have I seen a spirit?  Oh, Clarence, what is it?” cried Corona, in a tumult of emotion in which her life seemed throbbing away as she clung to her uncle for support.

“Try to compose yourself, dear Cora,” he answered, as he gently laid her down on the mossy rocks, and went and brought her water from the spring in his pocket cup.

She raised herself and drank it at his request, and then staring wildly at him, repeated her questions: 

“Oh, what was it?  Who was here just now?  Or was it—­or was it—­was it—­delusion?”

“For Heaven’s sake, Cora, calm yourself.  It was Regulas Rothsay who stood here a moment ago.”

“Rule himself, and no delusion!  But, oh!  I knew it!  I knew it all the time!” she exclaimed, still trembling violently.

“My darling Cora, try—­”

“Where did he go?  Where?” she cried, staggering to her feet and clinging to her uncle.  “Where?  Oh, take me to him!”

“Do you see that log cabin on the plateau above us, Cora, to the right?” he said, pointing in the direction of which he spoke.

Her eyes followed his index, and she saw a cottage of rough-hewn logs standing against the rocky steep at the back of the broad ledge above them.

“What do you mean?  Is he up there?  Is he up there?” she breathlessly demanded.

“Yes; he is in that hut.  I saw him climb the rocks and enter it, and close the door.  But, for Heaven’s sake! compose yourself, my dear.  You are shaking as with an ague, and your hands are cold as ice,” said Clarence.

“In that hut, did you say?  So near?  So near?”

“Yes, dear Cora; but be calm.”

“Take me there!  Take me there!  Oh, give me your arm, Uncle Clarence, and help me.  My limbs fail now, when I need them more than ever before.  Ah! and my heart fails, too!” she moaned, growing suddenly pale and fainter as she leaned heavily against her uncle.

“Cora, darling!  Cora, rouse yourself, my girl!  This weakness is not like you.  Take courage; all will be well,” said Mr. Clarence, caressingly, laying his hand on her head.

She sighed heavily as she asked: 

“How will he receive me?  Oh, how will he receive me?  Will he have me now?  But he must!  Oh, he must!  For I will never, never, never go down this mountain side again without him!  I will perish on its rocks sooner!  Oh, come, come!  Help me to reach that hut, Clarence.”

There was no resisting her wild and passionate appeal.  Clarence put his arm around her waist, to sustain her more effectually, as he said: