The ten minutes had expired: the Bishop was still drinking
ale, and Mr Mountchesney still making civil speeches and
keeping his immediate attendants in humour.
"I wish they would go," said Lady de Mowbray.
"How wonderfully Alfred has managed them," said Lady Joan.
"After all," said Lady Maud, "it must be confessed that the
people--" Her sentence was interrupted; Harold who had been
shut out but who had laid down without quietly, though moaning
at intervals, now sprang at the door with so much force that
it trembled on its hinges, while the dog again barked with
renewed violence. Sybil went to him: he seized her dress with
his teeth and would have pulled her away. Suddenly uncouth
and mysterious sounds were heard, there was a loud shriek, the
gong in the hail thundered, the great alarum-bell of the tower
sounded without, and the housekeeper followed by the female
domestics rushed into the room.
"O! my lady, my lady," they all exclaimed at the same time,
"the Hell-cats are breaking into the castle."
Before any one of the terrified company could reply, the voice
of Mr Mountchesney was heard. He was approaching them; he was
no longer calm. He hurried into the room; he was pale,
evidently greatly alarmed.
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