"Ah! someone has angered God greatly," she whispered aloud; and then she
carried the head to the secret door, knowing full well she would be
unwatched in her entry there--on such a day, with thunder pealing, not a
servant would have ventured into the long gallery.
Another and louder rumble reached her with muffled sound, as she made
her way in the dark underground, and as she came to the place where
there was the contrived gleam of light and outer air, the lightning
turned the narrow space into a green dusk.
Halcyone was trembling all over, and when she had put her precious
bundle safely into the bag with the rest of her simple preparations, she
laid it on the iron-bound box which had never been stirred, all ready
for her to lift up and take with her in the morning. Then she ran back,
cold and pale, and hastily sought Priscilla in her own room, and talked
long to her of old days, glad indeed to hear a human voice, until
presently the rain began to pour in torrents and the storm cried itself
out.
But with each crash before this came her heart gave a bound, as if in
pain.
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