The Midnight Queen [93]
that boats on water are rather unsteady things to be
dignified in - and was led gently and with care out of the
swaying vessel, and up another flight of stairs. Then, in a few
moments, she was conscious of passing from the free night air
into the closer atmosphere of a house; and in going through an
endless labyrinth of corridors, and passages, and suites of
rooms, and flights of stairs, until she became so extremely
tired, that she stopped with spirited abruptness, and in the
plainest possible English, gave her conductor to understand that
they had gone about far enough for all practical purposes. To
which that patient and respectful individual replied that he was
glad to inform her they had but a few more steps to go, which the
next moment proved to be true, for he stopped and announced that
their promenade was over for the night.
"And I suppose I may have the use of my eyes at last?" inquired
Leoline, with more haughtiness than Sir Norman could have
believed possible so gentle a voice could have expressed.
For reply, her companion rapidly untied the bandage, and withdrew
it with a flourish. The dazzling brightness that burst upon her,
so blinded her, that for a moment she could distinguish nothing;
and when she looked round to contemplate her companion, she found
him hurriedly making his exit, and securely locking the door.
The sound of the key turning in the lock gave her a most peculiar
sensation, which none but those who have experienced it can
properly understand. It is not the most comfortable feeling in
the world to know you are a prisoner, even if you have no key
turned upon you but the weather, and your jailer be a high east
wind and lashing rain. Leoline's prison and jailer were
something worse; and, for the first time, a chill of fear and
dismay crept icily to the core of her heart. But Leoline had
something of Miranda's courage, as well as her looks and temper;
so she tried to feel as brave as possible, and not think of her
unpleasant predicament while there remained anything else to
think about. Perhaps she might escape, too; and, as this notion
struck her, she looked with eager anxiety, not unmixed with
curiosity, at the place where she was. By this time, her eyes
had been accustomed to the light, which proceeded from a great
antique lamp of bronze, pendent by a brass chain from the
ceiling; and she saw she was in a moderately sized and by no
means splendid room. But what struck her most was, that
everything had a look of age about it, from the glittering oak
beams of the floor to the faded ghostly hangings on the wall.
There was a bed at one end - a great spectral ark of a thing,
like a mausoleum, with drapery as old and spectral as that on the
walls, and in which she could no more have lain than in a moth-
eaten shroud. The seats and the one table the room held were of
the same ancient and weird pattern, and the sight of them gave
her a shivering sensation not unlike an ague chill. There was
but one door - a huge structure, with shining panels, securely
locked; and escape from that quarter was utterly out of the
question. There was one window, hung with dark curtains of
tarnished embroidery, but in pushing them aside, she met only a
dull blank of unlighted glass, for the shutters were firmly
secured without. Altogether, she could not form the slightest
idea where she was; and, with a feeling of utter despair, she sat
down on one of the queer old chairs, with much the same feeling
as if she were sitting in a tomb.
What would Sir Norman say? What would he ever think of her, when
he found her gone. And what was destined to be her fate in this
dreadful out-of-the-way place? She would have cried, as most of
her sex would be tempted to do in such a situation, but that her
dislike and horror of Count L'Estrange was a good deal stronger
than her grief, and turned her tears to sparks of indignant fire.
dignified in - and was led gently and with care out of the
swaying vessel, and up another flight of stairs. Then, in a few
moments, she was conscious of passing from the free night air
into the closer atmosphere of a house; and in going through an
endless labyrinth of corridors, and passages, and suites of
rooms, and flights of stairs, until she became so extremely
tired, that she stopped with spirited abruptness, and in the
plainest possible English, gave her conductor to understand that
they had gone about far enough for all practical purposes. To
which that patient and respectful individual replied that he was
glad to inform her they had but a few more steps to go, which the
next moment proved to be true, for he stopped and announced that
their promenade was over for the night.
"And I suppose I may have the use of my eyes at last?" inquired
Leoline, with more haughtiness than Sir Norman could have
believed possible so gentle a voice could have expressed.
For reply, her companion rapidly untied the bandage, and withdrew
it with a flourish. The dazzling brightness that burst upon her,
so blinded her, that for a moment she could distinguish nothing;
and when she looked round to contemplate her companion, she found
him hurriedly making his exit, and securely locking the door.
The sound of the key turning in the lock gave her a most peculiar
sensation, which none but those who have experienced it can
properly understand. It is not the most comfortable feeling in
the world to know you are a prisoner, even if you have no key
turned upon you but the weather, and your jailer be a high east
wind and lashing rain. Leoline's prison and jailer were
something worse; and, for the first time, a chill of fear and
dismay crept icily to the core of her heart. But Leoline had
something of Miranda's courage, as well as her looks and temper;
so she tried to feel as brave as possible, and not think of her
unpleasant predicament while there remained anything else to
think about. Perhaps she might escape, too; and, as this notion
struck her, she looked with eager anxiety, not unmixed with
curiosity, at the place where she was. By this time, her eyes
had been accustomed to the light, which proceeded from a great
antique lamp of bronze, pendent by a brass chain from the
ceiling; and she saw she was in a moderately sized and by no
means splendid room. But what struck her most was, that
everything had a look of age about it, from the glittering oak
beams of the floor to the faded ghostly hangings on the wall.
There was a bed at one end - a great spectral ark of a thing,
like a mausoleum, with drapery as old and spectral as that on the
walls, and in which she could no more have lain than in a moth-
eaten shroud. The seats and the one table the room held were of
the same ancient and weird pattern, and the sight of them gave
her a shivering sensation not unlike an ague chill. There was
but one door - a huge structure, with shining panels, securely
locked; and escape from that quarter was utterly out of the
question. There was one window, hung with dark curtains of
tarnished embroidery, but in pushing them aside, she met only a
dull blank of unlighted glass, for the shutters were firmly
secured without. Altogether, she could not form the slightest
idea where she was; and, with a feeling of utter despair, she sat
down on one of the queer old chairs, with much the same feeling
as if she were sitting in a tomb.
What would Sir Norman say? What would he ever think of her, when
he found her gone. And what was destined to be her fate in this
dreadful out-of-the-way place? She would have cried, as most of
her sex would be tempted to do in such a situation, but that her
dislike and horror of Count L'Estrange was a good deal stronger
than her grief, and turned her tears to sparks of indignant fire.