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Little by little--while they fought below--the glooht had fallen in the rooht Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the

stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as

if by that action she could avertso far

forward to

in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her

back into the room, for they felt safer there But she was not to be

uard-rooot as he passed, below but out of sight, had no terrors

for her; nay, she breathedof the

staircase than in the close confines of a room which her fears made

hateful to her Here at least she could listen, her face unseen; and

listening she bore the suspense more easily

A turn in the staircase, with the noise which proceeded frouard-

room, rendered it difficult to hear what happened in the closed rooht that if an alarm were raised there shehappened, she began to feel

confident that her lover had ht Three or four uard-room

and went, as it seemed to her, to the door of the room with the shattered

casement She told herself that she had rejoiced too soon, and her heart

stood still She waited for a rush of feet, a cry, a struggle But

except an uncertain muffled sound which lasted for some, the noise in the guard-room which had been