She
never believed that the house was on fire, even though the moon made
very bright sparkles; she always said the sounds were the servants,
the wind, or the mice; and never would allow that thieves would steal
little girls, or anything belonging to themselves. Or if she were
fast asleep, her very presence gave a feeling of protection.
But when the preparations were very nearly over, and Kate began to
think of the strange room, and the roar of carriages in the streets
sounded so unnatural, her heart failed her, and the fear of being
alone quite overpowered her dread of the grave staid Mrs. Bartley,
far more of being thought a silly little girl.
"Please please, Mrs. Bartley," she said in a trembling voice, "are
you going away?"
"Yes, my Lady; I am going down to supper, when I have placed my Lady
Jane's and my Lady Barbara's things."
"Then please--please," said Kate, in her most humble and insinuating
voice, "do leave the door open while you are doing it."
"Very well, my Lady," was the answer, in a tone just like that in
which Lady Barbara said "Oh!"
And the door stayed open; but Kate could not sleep. There seemed to
be the rattle and bump of the train going on in her bed; the gas-
lights in the streets below came in unnaturally, and the noises were
much more frightful and unaccountable than any she had ever heard at
home. Her eyes spread with fright, instead of closing in sleep; then
came the longing yearning for Sylvia, and tears grew hot in them; and
by the time Mrs.
Pages:
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47