The earl turned like one struck on the back, imagined something of
which Arctura knew nothing, cowered to two-thirds of his height, and
crept away. Though herself trembling from head to foot, Arctura was
seized with such a pity, that she followed him to his room; but she
dared not go in. She stood a moment in the passage within sight of
his door, and thought she heard his bell ring. Now Simmons might
meet Donal! In a moment or two, however, she was relieved. Donal
came round a turn, carrying his implements. She signed to him to
make haste, and he was just safe inside her room when Simmons came
along on his way to his master's. She drew the door to, as if she
had been just coming out, and said,
"Knock at my door as you return, and tell me how your master is: I
heard his bell."
She then begged Donal to go on with his work, but stop it the moment
she made a noise with the handle of the door, and resumed her place
outside till Simmons should re-appear. Full ten minutes she stood
waiting: it seemed an hour. Though she heard Donal at work within,
and knew Simmons must soon come, though the room behind her was her
own, and familiar to her from childhood, the long empty passage in
front of her appeared frightful. What might not come pacing along
towards her! At last she heard her uncle's door--steps--and the
butler approached. She shook the handle of the door, and Donal's
blows ceased.
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