"Your stair
has taken my breath away. But my uncle is in such a strange
condition that I could not help coming to you."
"I have seen him myself, more than once, very strange."
"Will you come with me?"
"Anywhere."
"Come then."
She left the room, and led the way, by the light of her dim taper,
down the stair. About the middle of it, she stopped at a door, and
turning said, with a smile like that of a child, and the first
untroubled look Donal had yet seen upon her face--
"How delightful it is to be taken out of fear! I am not the least
afraid now!"
"I am very glad," said Donal. "I should like to kill fear; it is the
shadow that follows at the heels of wrong.--Do you think the music
has anything to do with your uncle's condition?"
"I do not know."
She turned again hastily, and passing through the door, entered a
part of the house with which Donal had no acquaintance. With many
bewildering turns, she led him to the great staircase, down which
she continued her course. The house was very still: it must surely
be later than he had thought--only there were so few servants in it
for its extent! His guide went very fast, with a step light as a
bird's: at one moment he had all but lost sight of her in the great
curve. At the room in which Donal first saw the earl, she stopped.
The door was open, but there was no light within. She led him across
to the door of the little chamber behind.
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