The wonderful voice went on. I paused, with hands outstretched.
Supposing I bumped into something! I took a step forward, another and
another; I swung my crop in a half-circle; all was vacancy, I took
another step, this time in the direction of the voice--and started back
with a smothered curse. Bang-ang! I had run into a suit of old armor,
the shield of which had clattered to the stone floor. As I have
observed, I am not a coward, but I had all I could do to keep my
legs--which were stirrup-weary, anyhow--from knocking under me!
Silence!
The song died. All over that great rambling structure not even the
reassuring chirp of a cricket! I stood perfectly still. What the
deuce should I do? Turn back? As I formed this question in my mind a
draft of wind slammed the door shut. I was in for it, sure enough; I
was positive that I could never find that door again. There was
nothing to do but wait, and wait with straining ears. Here were
mysterious inhabitants.--they might be revolutionists, conspirators,
counterfeiters.
Heaven knows how long I waited.
Soon I heard a laugh, light, infectious, fearless! Then I heard a
voice, soft and pleading.
"Don't go; in mercy's name, don't go, Gretchen! You may be killed!"
English! I had actually heard a voice speak my native tongue.
"Nonsense, Betty! I am not afraid of any ghost that ever walked, rode
or floated."
"Ghost? It may be a burglar!"
"Or Steinbock! We shall find nothing."
Indeed!
"Nothing but a rat, bungling about in the armor." The laughter came
again. "You are not _afraid_, Betty?"
"Only cautious. But how can you laugh? A rat?" cried a voice rather
anxiously. "Why, they are as big as dogs!"
"But arrant cowards."
So! one of these voices spoke English as its birthright; the other
spoke with an accent, that is to say, by adoption. Into what had I
fallen? Whither had my hunger brought me? I was soon to learn.
There came a faint thread of light on one side of the hall, such as may
be likened to that which filters under a door-sill. Presently this was
followed by the sound of jangling brass rings. A heavy velvet
portière--which I, being in darkness, had not discovered--slipped back.
My glance, rather blinded, was first directed toward the flame of the
candle. Then I lowered it--and surrendered for ever and for ever!
I beheld two faces in profile, as it were, one side in darkness, the
other tinted and glowing like ancient ivory. I honestly confess to you
that in all my wanderings--and they have been frequent and many--I
never saw such an enchanting picture or two more exquisite faces. One
peered forth with hesitant bravery; the other--she who held the
candle--with cold, tranquil inquiry.