These horrid men, you know, all go and
propose the moment they save one's life; but a priest _carit_, you
know--no, not if he saved one a thousand times over. Can he now, Ethel
darling?"
"Oh no!" said Ethel, in a little surprise.
"But stop, darling. You really must _not_ say another word--no, not so
much as a whisper--for we certainly _will_ be heard; and don't notice
what I do, or the priest either, for it's very, very important, dear.
But you keep as still as a little mouse, and wait till we are all
ready."
"Well, Ethel dear, I will; but it's awfully funny to see you here--and
oh, _such_ a funny figure as you are!"
"H-s-s-s-h!"
Minnie relapsed into silence now, and Ethel withdrew near to the door,
where she stood and listened. All was still. Down stairs there was no
light and no sound. In the hall above she could see nothing, and could
not tell whether any guards were there or not.
Hawbury's room was at the back of the house, as has been said, and the
door was just at the top of the stairs. The door where Ethel was
standing was there too, and was close by the other, so that she could
listen and hear the deep breathing of the sleeper. One or two
indistinct sounds escaped him from time to time, and this was all that
broke the deep stillness.
She waited thus for nearly an hour, during which all was still, and
Minnie said not a word. Then a shadowy figure appeared near her at
Hawbury's door, and a hand touched her shoulder.
Not a word was said.
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