ABSTRACT
‘A Moment only remained,’ said Mrs. Glenmorris, continuing her narrative, ‘to consult on the means of our escape. The impossibility of my passing through the bed-chamber of Mrs. Margyson, whose bed exactly fronted the door, was our greatest impediment, and such as for the moment appeared insurmountable. She herself locked the door every night, and usually sat up later than I did – To obviate such a difficulty was not the contrivance of a moment, and lights being now seen, and voices calling me from the house being heard, Glenmorris, hurrying to assist me to regain the terras, had only time to entreat me to see him again the following evening. – “I,” said he, “will in the mean time walk round the fortress, and as you have given me an idea of your chamber, I think I shall find some means to settle our plan by to-morrow night.” I implored him to take care, which he promised, and in his turn entreating me to have courage, and not betray myself by the appearance of fear, we parted. Glenmorris disappeared, and I walked towards the persons whom I observed coming from the house in search of me. Mrs. Margyson, though quite a cripple with the rheumatism, came towards me as nimbly as she could, and enquired why I walked so late? I answered with apparent unconcern; and as she saw me safe her fears and her displeasure vanished together. I went in to supper, not without dread of hearing a more severe remonstrance from Lady Mary; but I found that during my absence she had heard by an avant courier21 of Lord and Lady Daventry’s proposed arrival the next day save one, and had been too busy in giving orders, and settling every thing that was to be done the next day, to think about me. Indeed she hardly seemed to recollect that I existed.
