Though she went in trembling, she felt sure nobody spied upon her going;
and in this confidence crept to the great staircase, down to the entrance
hall, and on to the front doors; and a good omen it seemed to find these
not locked, but simply on the latch. And if the night into which she peered
was dark and loud with wind and rain, its countenance seemed kindlier, more
friendly far than that of the world she was putting behind her. Without
misgivings Sofia stepped out.
It was like stepping over the edge of the universe into the eternal night
that bides beyond the stars. Neither did waiting seem to habituate her
vision to the lack of light.
Still, the feel of gravel underfoot ought to guide her down the drive to
the great gateway; and once outside the park, clear of its overshadowing
trees, one would surely find mitigation of darkness sufficient to show the
public road.
She took one tentative step out of the recessed doorway and into Victor's
arms.
That they were Victor's she knew instantly, as much by the crawling of her
flesh as by the choking terror that stifled the scream in her throat and
froze body and limbs with its paralyzing touch.
And then his ironic accents:
"So good of you to spare me the trouble of coming for you!"
Before she could reply or even think, other hands than his were busy with
her. A folded cloth was whipped over the lower half of her face, sealing
her lips, and knotted at the nape of her neck. Stout arms clipped her knees
and swung her off her feet, leaving her body helpless in Victor's tight
embrace.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241