"Bring some candles, Billy," she said. "The lights may be going
out any moment--and Billy," as he started to leave, "there's a
gentleman arriving on the last train. After he comes you may go
to bed. I'll wait up for Miss Dale--oh, and Billy," arresting
him at the door, "see that all the outer doors on this floor are
locked and bring the keys here."
Billy nodded and departed. Miss Cornelia took a long breath. Now
that the moment for waiting had passed--the moment for action come
--she felt suddenly indomitable, prepared to face a dozen Bats!
Her feelings were not shared by her maid. "I know what all this
means," moaned Lizzie. "I tell you there's going to be a death,
sure!"
"There certainly will be if you don't keep quiet," said her
mistress acidly. "Lock the billiard-room windows and go to bed."
But this was the last straw for Lizzie. A picture of the two
long, dark flights of stairs up which she had to pass to reach her
bedchamber rose before her--and she spoke her mind.
"I am not going to bed!" she said wildly. "I'm going to pack up
tomorrow and leave this house." That such a threat would never be
carried out while she lived made little difference to her--she
was beyond the need of Truth's consolations. "I asked you on my
bended knees not to take this place two miles from a railroad,"
she went on heatedly. "For mercy's sake, Miss Neily, let's go
back to the city before it's too late!"
Miss Cornelia was inflexible.
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