“I would fain wish for some small adventure in Lady Humbert’s absence, just to show that she has not put her faith in us in vain!” said Kate, as the girls sought their couch on the second night of the mistress’s absence.  “There has not been so much as a beggar to the gate.  These storms of wind and rain seem to keep all within doors.”

“I fear me I am but a coward,” answered Petronella, “for I am glad when night follows day and there be naught to alarm us.  Perchance sitting with our aunt Dowsabel so much, I learn somewhat of her fears from her.”

“A truce to fear!” cried Kate, as she unbound her hair and tossed the heavy mane out of her eyes and over her shoulders.  “Would that we lived in days when women might do and dare somewhat for those they loved, or for their country!  I should love to have to hold this house against a rabble of hooting foes!”

“So should not I,” answered Petronella.  “I love not strife and warfare; I am for quietude and peace,” and she smiled into Kate’s flushed face, whilst Cherry looked from one to the other, scarce knowing with which she sided.

She had something of Kate’s daring, and dearly admired it in her; but she shared in part Petronella’s shrinking from strife and danger, a shrinking that to Kate was inexplicable.

The night came and went in quietness and peace.  The day passed without any event.  Kate paced impatiently up and down the big hall as the sun went down in red and gold, sullen and lowering as it neared the horizon, but shining to the last.  She had not been beyond the limits of the garden since Lady Humbert had gone.  Now it seemed as if a restless fit had come upon her, and grasping Cherry by the arm, she cried: 

“Let us go into the long gallery overhead and dance—­dance—­dance!  My feet are fairly aching for some exercise.  Come thou and dance with me.”

Kate’s word was almost always law to Cherry, though she thought it a dreary place to select just at this hour of approaching darkness.  Still, there would be a little light glimmering in through that long row of windows, and with Kate who would be afraid?

The key was in the door.  The polished boards of the long ballroom lay gleaming with ghostly shimmer in the fading light.  The pictures on the walls seemed to stare at the two intruders with cold displeasure.  Cherry shivered slightly as the chill struck her.  It seemed to her as if these stately knights and dames themselves must surely come down from their frames at such an hour as this; and silently disport themselves in this long gallery.  She was glad to feel Kate’s arm about her as she commenced circling round and round in her light and airy fashion.  As the warm blood began tingling in their veins the pace grew faster and faster, and Cherry’s chilliness and fear alike left her.  Up and down, round and round, flew the light girlish feet.  The exercise was delightful to both after the inaction of two long days.  Up and down, round and round, as though they would never tire; and as they danced the twilight changed to night, and only glimmering moonbeams fell within the row of windows, lighted the long gallery, and fell upon the flickering figures of the two girls.