"Why sleeps the thunder?
But it will roll ere long, and oh! may it be to preserve as well as to punish!" The hour of dinner alone afforded a space when, all in the castle being occupied with that meal, Catharine thought she had the best opportunity of venturing to the breach in the wall, with the least chance of being observed.

In waiting for the hour, she observed some stir in the castle, which had been silent as the grave ever since the seclusion of the Duke of Rothsay.

The portcullis was lowered and raised, and the creaking of the machinery was intermingled with the tramp of horse, as men at arms went out and returned with steeds hard ridden and covered with foam.

She observed, too, that such domestics as she casually saw from her window were in arms.

All this made her heart throb high, for it augured the approach of rescue; and besides, the bustle left the little garden more lonely than ever.