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The joy of that discovery! The transport of waking to it, and
waking refreshed! The swift and sudden miracle that it seemed! I
shall never, never forget it, still less the sickening thrill of
fear which was cruelly quick to follow upon my joy. The cottage was
still as the tomb. What if I had slept too long!
With trembling hand I found my watch.
Luckily I had wound it in the early morning. I now carried it to
the window, drew back the blind, and held it in the moonlight. It
was not quite ten o'clock. And yet the cottage was so still - so
still.
I stole to the door, opened it by cautious degrees, and saw the
reflection of a light below. Still not a sound could I hear, save
the rapid drawing of my own breath, and the startled beating of
my own heart.
I now felt certain that the Braithwaites were out, and dressed
hastily, making as little noise as possible, and still hearing
absolutely none from below. Then, feeling faint with hunger, though
a new being after my sleep, I remembered a packet of sandwiches
which I had not opened on my journey north. These I transferred
from my travelling-bag (where they had lain forgotten to my jacket
pocket, before drawing down the blind, leaving the room on tip-toe,
and very gently fastening the door behind me. On the stairs, too,
I trod with the utmost caution, feeling the wall with my left
hand (my right was full), lest by any chance I might be mistaken
in supposing I had the cottage to myself. In spite of my caution
there came a creak at every step. And to my sudden horror I heard
a chair move in the kitchen below.
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