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Butslowastheyseemedtothequeen，thehoursyetpassed：towardstheafternoonsomecloudsfloatedacrossthebluesky；thequeenremarkeduponthemjoyfullytohercompanion；MarySeytoncongratulatedheruponthem，notonaccountoftheimaginaryomenthatthequeensoughtinthem，butbecauseoftherealimportancethattheweathershouldbecloudy，thatdarknessmightaidthemintheirflight。Whilethetwoprisonerswerewatchingthebillowy，movingvapours，thehourofdinnerarrived；butitwashalfanhourofconstraintanddissimulation，themorepainfulthat，nodoubtinreturnforthesortofgoodwillshownhimbythequeeninthemorning，WilliamDouglasthoughthimselfobliged，inhisturn，toaccompanyhisdutieswithfittingcompliments，whichcompelledthequeentotakeamoreactivepartintheconversationthanherpreoccupationallowedher；butWilliamDouglasdidnotseeminanywaytoobservethisabsenceofmind，andallpassedasatbreakfast。
Directlyhehadgonethequeenrantothewindow：thefewcloudswhichwerechasingoneanotherintheskyanhourbeforehadthickenedandspread，and——allthebluewasblottedout，togiveplacetoahuedullandleadenaspewter。MaryStuart’spresentimentswerethusrealised：astothelittlehouseinKinross，whichonecouldstillmakeoutinthedusk，itremainedshutup，andseemeddeserted。
Nightfell：thelightshoneasusual；thequeensignalled，itdisappeared。MaryStuartwaitedinvain；everythingremainedindarkness：theescapewasforthesameevening。Thequeenheardeighto’clock，nineo’clock，andteno’clockstrikesuccessively。Atteno’clockthesentinelswererelieved；MaryStuartheardthepatrolspassbeneathherwindows，thestepsofthewatchrecede：thenallreturnedtosilence。Halfanhourpassedawaythus；suddenlytheowl’scryresoundedthrice，thequeenrecognisedGeorgeDouglas’ssignal：thesuprememomenthadcome。
Inthesecircumstancesthequeenfoundallherstrengthrevive：shesignedtoMarySeytontotakeawaythebarandtofixtheropeladder，while，puttingoutthelamp，shefeltherwayintothebedroomtoseekthecasketwhichcontainedherfewremainingjewels。
Whenshecameback，GeorgeDouglaswasalreadyintheroom。
“Allgoeswell，madam，“saidhe。“Yourfriendsawaityouontheothersideofthelake，ThomasWardenwatchesatthepostern，andGodhassentusadarknight。“
Thequeen，withoutreplying，gavehimherhand。Georgebenthiskneeandcarriedthishandtohislips；butontouchingit，hefeltitcoldandtrembling。
“Madam，“saidhe，“inHeaven’snamesummonallyourcourage，anddonotletyourselfbedowncastatsuchamoment。“
“OurLady-of-Good-Help，“murmuredSeyton，“cometoouraid！“
“Summontoyouthespiritofthekingsyourancestors，“respondedGeorge，“foratthismomentitisnottheresignationofaChristianthatyourequire，butthestrengthandresolutionofaqueen“
“Oh，Douglas！Douglas，“criedMarymournfully，“afortune-tellerpredictedtomethatIshoulddieinprisonandbyaviolentdeath：
hasnotthehourofthepredictionarrived？“
“Perhaps，“Georgesaid，“butitisbettertodieasaqueenthantoliveinthisancientcastlecalumniatedandaprisoner。“
“Youareright，George，“thequeenanswered；“butforawomanthefirststepiseverything：forgiveme“。Then，afteramoment’spause，“Come，“saidshe；“Iamready。“
Georgeimmediatelywenttothewindow，securedtheladderagainandmorefirmly，thengettingupontothesillandholdingtothebarswithonehand，hestretchedouttheothertothequeen，who，asresoluteassheh
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