Her voice, as she called upon him to follow her into the
passage, was again firm in a moment, and pervaded by a cold ease which
seemed to him artificial:--
"There is but little time left you now, sir, for escape: it were
criminal not to use it. Follow me boldly, but cautiously--I will lead
the way--the house is familiar to me, in night and day, and there must
be no waste of time."
He would have resisted this conduct, and himself taken the lead in the
advance; but, placing her small and trembling hand upon his arm, she
insisted upon the course she had prescribed, and in a manner which he
did not venture to resist. Their steps were slow into the open space
which, seeming as an introduction to, at the same time separated the
various chambers of the dwelling, and terminated in the large and
cumbrous stairway which conducted to the lower story, and to which their
course was now directed. The passage was of some length, but with
cautious tread they proceeded in safety and without noise to the head of
the stairway, when the maiden, who still preserved the lead, motioned
him back, retreating herself, as she did so, into the cover of a small
recess, formed by the stairs, which it partially overhung, and
presenting a doubtful apology for a closet.
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