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of securing it。
'The lamp was nearly out； and he could not be certain whether the
form of the young woman was upon the bench or not。 Overcoming a
strong repugnance； he approached it； and put out his handsthere
was nothing there。 He sat down and waited for the daylight： he
dared not sleep any more。
'When the day dawned at length； he went out yet again； and looked
around。 The morning was dim and gusty and gray。 The wind had
fallen； but the waves were tossing wildly。 He wandered up and down
the little strand； longing for more light。
'At length he heard a movement in the cottage。 By and by the voice
of the old woman called to him from the door。
'〃You're up early； sir。 I doubt you didn't sleep well。〃
'〃Not very well；〃 he answered。 〃But where is your daughter？〃
'〃She's not awake yet；〃 said the mother。 〃I'm afraid I have but a
poor breakfast for you。 But you'll take a dram and a bit of fish。
It's all I've got。〃
'Unwilling to hurt her； though hardly in good appetite； he sat down
at the table。 While they were eating the daughter came in； but
turned her face away and went to the further end of the hut。 When
she came forward after a minute or two； the youth saw that her hair
was drenched； and her face whiter than before。 She looked ill and
faint； and when she raised her eyes； all their fierceness had
vanished； and sadness had taken its place。 Her neck was now covered
with a cotton handkerchief。 She was modestly attentive to him； and
no longer shunned his gaze。 He was gradually yielding to the
temptation of braving another night in the hut； and seeing what
would follow； when the old woman spoke。
'〃The weather will be broken all day； sir；〃 she said。 〃You had
better be going； or your friends will leave without you。〃
'Ere he could answer； he saw such a beseeching glance on the face of
the girl； that he hesitated； confused。 Glancing at the mother； he
saw the flash of wrath in her face。 She rose and approached her
daughter； with her hand lifted to strike her。 The young woman
stooped her head with a cry。 He darted round the table to interpose
between them。 But the mother had caught hold of her； the
handkerchief had fallen from her neck； and the youth saw five blue
bruises on her lovely throatthe marks of the four fingers and the
thumb of a left hand。 With a cry of horror he rushed from the
house； but as he reached the door he turned。 His hostess was lying
motionless on the floor； and a huge gray wolf came bounding after
him。'
An involuntary cry from Mysie interrupted the story…teller。 He
changed his tone at once。
'I beg your pardon； Miss Lindsay； for telling you such a horrid
tale。 Do forgive me。 I didn't mean to frighten you more than a
little。'
'Only a case of lycanthropia；' remarked Mr。 Lindsay； as coolly as if
that settled everything about it and lycanthropia； horror and all；
at once。
'Do tell us the rest；' pleaded Mysie； and Ericson resumed。
'There was no weapon at hand； and if there had been； his inborn
chivalry would never have allowed him to harm a woman even under the
guise of a wolf。 Instinctively； he set himself firm； leaning a
little forward； with half outstretched arms； and hands curved ready
to clutch again at the throat upon which he had left those pitiful
marks。 But the creature as she sprang eluded his grasp； and just as
he expected to feel her fangs； he found a woman weeping on his
bosom； with her arms around his neck。 The next instant； the gray
wolf broke from him； and bounded howling up the cliff。 Recovering
himself as he best might； the youth followed； for it was the only
way to the moor above； across which he must now make his way to find
his companions。
'All at once he heard the sound of a crunching of bonesnot as if a
creature was eating them； but as if they were ground by the teeth of
rage and disappointment： looking up； he saw close above him the
mouth of the little cavern in which he had taken refuge the day
before。 Summoning all his resolution； he passed it slowly and
softly。 From within came the sounds of a mingled moaning and
growling。
'Having reached the top； he ran at full speed for some distance
across the moor before venturing to look behind him。 When at length
he did so he saw； against the sky； the girl standing on the edge of
the cliff； wringing her hands。 One solitary wail crossed the space
between。 She made no attempt to follow him； and he reached the
opposite shore in safety。'
Mysie tried to laugh； but succeeded badly。 Robert took his violin；
and its tones had soon swept all the fear from her face； leaving in
its stead a trouble that has no namethe trouble of wanting one
knows not whator how to seek it。
It was now time to go home。 Mysie gave each an equally warm
good…night and thanks； Mr。 Lindsay accompanied them to the door； and
the students stepped into the moonlight。 Across the links the sound
of the sea came with a swell。
As they went down the garden； Ericson stopped。 Robert thought he
was looking back to the house； and went on。 When Ericson joined
him； he was pale as death。
'What is the maitter wi' ye； Mr。 Ericson？' he asked in terror。
'Look there！' said Ericson； pointing； not to the house； but to the
sky。
Robert looked up。 Close about the moon were a few white clouds。
Upon these white clouds； right over the moon； and near as the
eyebrow to an eye； hung part of an opalescent halo； bent into the
rude； but unavoidable suggestion of an eyebrow； while； close around
the edge of the moon； clung another； a pale storm…halo。 To this
pale iris and faint…hued eyebrow the full moon itself formed the
white pupil： the whole was a perfect eye of ghastly death； staring
out of the winter heaven。 The vision may never have been before；
may never have been again； but this Ericson and Robert saw that
night。
CHAPTER XV。
THE LAST OF THE COALS。
The next Sunday Robert went with Ericson to the episcopal chapel；
and for the first time in his life heard the epic music of the
organ。 It was a new starting…point in his life。 The worshipping
instrument flooded his soul with sound； and he stooped beneath it as
a bather on the shore stoops beneath the broad wave rushing up the
land。 But I will not linger over this portion of his history。 It
is enough to say that he sought the friendship of the organist； was
admitted to the instrument； touched； trembled； exulted； grew
dissatisfied； fastidious； despairing； gathered hope and tried again；
and yet again； till at last； with constantly…recurring fits of
self…despite； he could not leave the grand creature alone。 It
became a rival even to his violin。 And once before the end of
March； when the organist was ill； and another was not to be had； he
ventured to occupy his place both at morning and evening service。
Dr。 Anderson kept George Moray in bed for a few days； after which he
went about for a while with his arm in a sling。 But the season of
bearing material burdens was over for him now。 Dr。 Anderson had an
interview with the master of the grammar…school； a class was
assigned to Moray； and with a delight； resting chiefly on his social
approximation to Robert； which in one week elevated the whole
character of his person and countenance and bearing； George Moray
bent himself to the task of mental growth。 Having good helpers at
home； and his late…developed energy turning itself entirely into the
new channel； he got on admirably。 As there was no other room to be
had in Mrs。 Fyvie's house； he continued for the rest of the session
to sleep upon the rug； for he would not hear of going to another
house。 The doctor had advised Robert to drop the nickname as much
as possible； but the first time he called him Moray； Shargar
threatened to cut his throat； and so between the two the name
remained。
I presume that by this time Doctor Anderson had made up his mind to
leave his money to Robert； but thought it better to say nothing
about it； and let the boy mature his independence。 He had him often
to his house。 Ericson frequently accompanied him； and as there was
a good deal of original similarity between the doctor and Ericson；
the latter soon felt his obligation no longer a burden。 Shargar
likewise； though more occasionally； made one of the party； and soon
began； in his new circumstances； to develop the manners of a
gentleman。 I say develop advisedly； for Shargar had a deep humanity
in him； as abundantly testified by his devotion to Robert； and
humanity is the body of which true manners is the skin and ordinary
manifestation： true manners are the polish which lets the internal
humanity shine through； just as the polish on marble reveals its
veined beauty。 Many talks did the elderly man hold with the three
youths； and his experience of life taught Ericson and Robert much；
especially what he told them about his Brah