Part 66 (1/2)

Saying this he left the room

”Where is Edith Brandon?” asked Despard, after he had gone

”She is here,” said Mrs Thornton

”Have you seen her?”

”Yes”

”Is she what you anticipated?”

”More She is incredible She is almost unearthly I feel awe of her, but not fear She is too sweet to inspire fear”

CHAPTER xxxII

FLIGHT

The last entry in Beatrice's journal was ht be the last

In her life at Brandon Hall her soul had grown stronger and more resolute Besides, it had now come to this, that henceforth she ht contrive or fly instantly

For she had dared them to their faces; she had told them of their crimes; she had threatened punisher of Despard If she had desired instant death she could have said no more than that Would they pass it by? She knew their secret--the secret of secrets; she had proclai and disowned hiht And this she was fully resolved to try She prepared nothing To gain the outside world was all she wished The need of ht of; nor if it had been would it have made any difference She could not have obtained it

The one idea in her ht She had concealed her journal under a looser piece of the flooring in one of the closets of her roo the result of a search in case she was captured

She ht hat and a thin jacket were all that she took to resist the chill air of March There was a fever in her veins which was heightened by excite the evening Beatrice said but little Mrs Coenerally spoke She never dared talk about the affairs of the house

Beatrice was not i to escape before ht She sat silently while Mrs Cohts and plans The hours seeed on Beatrice's suspense and exciteer every moment, yet by a violent effort she preserved so perfect an outward calm that a closer observer than Mrs

Compton would have failed to detect any emotion

At last, about ten o'clock, Mrs Compton retired, with many kind wishes to Beatrice, and many anxious counsels as to her health Beatrice listened patiently, and eneral remarks, after which Mrs

Compton withdrew

She was now left to herself, and two hours still remained before she could dare to venture She paced the roo why it was that the ti fro that half an hour had passed, but seeing to her disappointone

At last eleven o'clock came She stole out quietly into the hall and went to the top of the grand stairway There she stood and listened

The sound of voices ca-room, which was near the hall-door She knehoed Evidently it was not yet the ti her excite suspense, ain she went to the head of the stairway The voices were still heard

They kept late hours down there Could she try nohile they were still up? Not yet