"Dear Hubert, you are my brother--my long-unknown brother, and I love
you with my whole heart!"
"Am I?" said Hubert. "I dare say I am, for they all say we look as much
alike as two peas. I am excessively delighted to hear it, and to know
that you love me. Permit me to embrace my new relative."
With which the court page kissed Leoline with emphasis, while she
scarcely knew whether to laugh, cry, or be provoked at his composure.
On the whole, she did a little of all three, and pushed him away with a
halt pout.
"You insensible mortal! How can you stand there and hear that you have
found a sister with so much indifference?"
"Indifferent? Not I! You have no idea how wildly excited I am!" said
Hubert, in a voice not betokening the slightest emotion. "How did you
find it out, Leoline?"
"Never mind! I shall tell you that again. You don't doubt it, I hope?"
"Of course not! I knew from the first moment I set eyes on you, that if
you were not my sister, you ought to be! I wish you'd tell me all the
particulars, Leoline."
"I shall do so as soon as I am out of this; but how can I tell you
anything here?"
"That's true!" said Hubert, reflectively. "Well, I'll wait. Now, don't
you wonder how I found you out, and came here?"
"Indeed I do. How was it, Hubert?"
"Oh, well, I don't know as I can altogether tell you; but you see, Sir
Norman Kingsley being possessed of an inspiration that something was
happening to you, came to your house a short time ago, and, as he
suspected, discovered that you were missing. I met him there,
rather depressed in his mind about it, and he told me--beginning the
conversation, I must say, in a very excited manner," said Hubert,
parenthetically, as memory recalled the furious shaking he had
undergone--"and he told me he fancied you were abducted, and by one
Count L'Estrange. Now I had a hazy idea who Count L'Estrange was, and
where he would be most apt to take you to; and so I came here, and after
some searching, more inquiring, and a few unmitigated falsehoods (you'll
regret to hear), discovered you were locked up in this place, and
succeeded in getting in through the window. Sir Norman is waiting for
me in a state of distraction so now, having found you, I will go and
relieve his mind by reporting accordingly."
"And leave me here?" cried Leoline, in affright, "and in the power of
Count L'Estrange? Oh! no, no! You must take me with you, Hubert!"
"My dear Leoline, it is quite impossible to do it without help, and
without a ladder. I will return to Sir Norman; and when the darkness
comes that precedes day-dawn, we will raise the ladder to your window,
and try to get you out. Be patient--only wait an hour or two, and then
you will be free."