It was a simple little scheme, yet one which promised success if carefully carried out.  Nicholas Trevlyn was accustomed to take night by night a posset of mead, brewed in some particular way by Martha.  She was, upon the night planned as the one for the escape of Petronella, to add to this posset some drops of a concoction prepared by herself from herbs, which would infallibly produce sound and deep sleep within two hours.  The master of the house asleep, all would be simple.  The two women would sally forth by the postern door, and make for the forest.  With the first light of the dawn, Martha would seek the shelter of Trevlyn Chase, whilst Petronella sought her brother in the pixies’ dell.  Nicholas Trevlyn would awake the next morning to find himself alone in the old Gate House that he had made intolerable for any other inmate.

Chapter 16:  The Pixies’ Dell.

After leaving Petronella close to her home, and watching the slight figure vanish within the postern door, Cuthbert turned his own steps towards the Chase, resolved to see Philip and tell him what had passed between him and his sister before returning to the forest dell where he had resolved to keep his watch.

He would not make any disturbance at the house at this dead hour of the night; but as he was familiar with the place, he quickly found his way to a small pavilion in the garden, the door of which was not locked at night, and stretching himself upon a wooden settle which stood there, he quickly fell asleep, and slept soundly and well until awakened by the sound of a startled exclamation.

Springing to his feet, bewildered for a moment, and unable to remember where he was, he found himself confronted by the eager, startled face and big lustrous eyes of his cousin Kate.

“Cuthbert! thou here!” she exclaimed in amaze.  “Thou surely hast not brought me ill news of my—­of Culverhouse!” and a deep flush overspread her face as she spoke.

Cuthbert hastened to reassure her.  He explained that he had not seen Culverhouse since they parted in the forest, and that his own errand was of a private nature, and concerned himself and his sister.

“Ah, poor Petronella! methinks a hard lot is hers, Cuthbert.  My brother does what he may; yet that is but little, and of late he has not been able so much as to get sight of her.  Yet I see not what thou canst do for her.  Thy father is even more incensed against thee than against us!”

“I came but to see with mine own eyes how she fared, and to breathe a word of hope in her ear.  Kate, sweet coz, let me breathe that same word in thine; for thou wast the one to give me hope and confidence when all besides looked on me as a wild dreamer.  Methinks I am on the track of the lost treasure.  Methinks with patience and care I shall find it yet.”

Kate’s eyes kindled and glowed.

“Nay, now, that is good hearing!  Said I not ever that the old saws spake sooth?  And is not the luck to return to the house of Wyvern through its daughters’ sons?  Cuthbert, tell me more—­tell me all! how is it thou hast succeeded where all besides have failed?”