"We can easily climb down from this window. You see this pear-tree; it almost touches the window. I have climbed down by it more than once; we can get in again the same way."
"Oh, yes. If we must sneak out of the house like thieves," said Nora, "it"s as good as any other way."
"I tell you it"s the only way," said Molly. "We must be off on our way to London before mother gets up tomorrow morning. You don"t know anything whatever about trains."
"But I can look them out," said Nora.
"Well, go back to your room. Mother will not be going to bed for quite an hour. We cannot help it; we can do nothing until she is safe in bed. Go away at once, Nora; for if she finds you here talking to me she will suspect something. I cannot tell you what mother is when once her suspicions are aroused; and she has had good cause to suspect me before now."
"But do you really mean to say you"ll come with me?"
"I certainly mean to say I won"t let you go alone. Now then, go away; just pack a few things, and slip back to me when I knock on the wall. I know when mother has gone to bed; it is necessary that she should be asleep, and that Linda should be asleep also; that is all we require. Leave the rest to me."
"And you are certain Stephanotie can lend us the money?"
"We can but ask her. If she refuses we must only come back again and make the best of things."
"I will never come back," said Nora. "I will go to the first p.a.w.nbroker"s and p.a.w.n everything of value I possess; but go to my father I will."
"I admire your courage," said Molly. "Now then, go back to your room and wait for my signal."
Nora returned to her room. She began to open and shut her drawers.
She did not care about being quiet. It seemed to her that no one could keep her from her father against her will. She did not recognize the all-potent fact that she had no money herself for the journey. Still, the money must be obtained. Of course Stephanotie had it, and of course Stephanotie would lend it; it would only be a loan for a few days. When once Nora got to Ireland she would return the money immediately.
She opened her drawers and filled a little black bag which she had brought with her from home. She put in the trifles she might need on her journey; the rest of her things could stay; she could not be bothered with them one way or the other. Then she sat quite still on the edge of her bed. How earnestly she wished that her aunt would retire for the night, that Linda would be quiet! Linda"s room adjoined Nora"s--it opened into Nora"s--and Linda, when occasions roused her suspicions, could be intensely watchful. She did not seem to be going to bed; she kept moving about in her room. Poor Nora could scarcely restrain herself from calling out, "Oh, do be quick, Linda! What are you staying up for?" but she refrained from saying the fatal words. Presently she heard the creak of Linda"s bed as she got into it. This was followed by silence.
Nora breathed a sigh of relief, but still the dangers were not past.
Her little black bag lay quite ready on the chair, and she herself sat on the edge of her bed. Mrs. Hartrick"s steps were heard coming up the stairs, and the next moment the door of Nora"s room was opened and the good lady looked in.
"Not in bed, Nora," she said; "but this is very wrong."
"Oh, I could not sleep," said Nora.
Mrs. Hartrick went up to her.
"Now, my dear child," she said, "I cannot rest until I see you safe in bed. Come, I must undress you myself. What a wan little face! My dear girl, you must trust in G.o.d. Your uncle"s telegram a.s.sures us that there is no danger; and if there is the smallest occasion I will take you myself to your father tomorrow."
"Oh! if you would only promise to take me," said poor Nora, suddenly rising to her feet, twining her arms round her aunt"s neck, and looking full into her face. "Oh! don"t say you will take me to my father if there is danger; say you"ll take me in any case. It would break my heart to stay away. I cannot--cannot stay away from him."
"Now, you are talking in an unreasonable way, Nora--in a way I cannot for a moment listen to. Your uncle wishes you to stay where you are. He would not wish that if there was the least occasion for you to go to Ireland."
"Then you will not take me tomorrow?"
"Not unless your father is worse. Come, I must help you to get your things off."
Nora felt herself powerless in Mrs. Hartrick"s hands. The good lady quickly began to divest her of her clothes, soon her night-dress was popped on, and she was lying down in bed.
"What is that black bag doing here?" said Mrs. Hartrick, glancing at the bag as she spoke.
"I was packing my things together to go to father."
"Well, dear, we must only trust there will be no necessity. Now, goodnight. Sleep well, my little girl. Believe me, I am not so unsympathetic as I look."
Nora made no reply. She covered her face with the bedclothes; a sob came from her throat. Mrs. Hartrick hesitated for a moment whether she would say anything further; but then, hoping that the tired-out girl would sleep, she went gently from the room. In the pa.s.sage she thought for a moment.
"Why did Nora pack that little bag?" she said to herself. "Can it be possible--but no, the child would not do it. Besides, she has no money."
Mrs. Hartrick entered her own room at the other end of the corridor and shut the door. Then stillness reigned over the house--stillness absolute and complete.
No light had been burning under Molly"s door when Mrs. Hartrick had pa.s.sed. Molly, indeed, wiser than Nora, had got into bed and lay there, dressed, it is true, but absolutely in the dark. Nora also lay in her bed; every nerve was beating frantically; her body seemed to be all one great pulse. At last, in desperation, she sprang out of bed--there came the welcome signal from Molly"s room. Nora struck a light and began to dress feverishly. In ten minutes she was once more in her clothes. She now put on the dark-gray traveling dress she had worn when coming to The Laurels. Her hat and jacket were quickly put on, and, carrying the little black bag, she entered Molly"s room.
"What hour is it?" said Nora. "It must be long past midnight."
"Oh, no; nothing of the kind. It is not more than eleven o"clock."
"Oh! I thought it was one or two. Do you know that your mother came to see me and insisted on my getting into bed?"
"You were a great goose, Nora. You should have lain down as I did, in your clothes; that would have saved a little time. But come, mother has been quite quiet for half an hour and more; she must be sound asleep. We had better go."
"Yes, we had better go," said Nora. "I packed a few things in this bag; it is quite light, and I can carry it. My money is in it, too--eight shillings and fivepence. I do trust Stephanotie will be able to lend us the rest."
Molly had not been idle while Nora was in her room. She had taken care to oil the hasp of the window; and now, with extreme caution, she lifted it up, taking care that it did not make the slightest sound as she did so. The next moment both girls were seated on the window-ledge. Molly sprang on to the pear-tree, which creaked and crackled under her weight; but Mrs. Hartrick was already in the land of dreams. Molly dropped on to the ground beneath, and then it was Nora"s turn.
"Shall I shut the window before I get on to the pear-tree?"
whispered Nora.
"No, no; leave it open. Come just as you are."
Nora reached out her arms, grasped the pear tree, and slipped down to the ground.
"Now then, we must be off," said Molly. "I hope Pilot won"t bark."
She was alluding to the big watchdog. "But there, I"ll speak to him; he is very fond of me."
The girls stole across the gra.s.s. The dew lay heavy on it; their footsteps made no sound. Presently they reached the front of the house, and Pilot, with a deep bay, flew to meet them.
"Pilot! Pilot! quiet; good dog!" said Molly. She went on her knees, flung her arms round the dog, and began to whisper in his ear.
"He understands," she said, looking up at Nora. The great creature seemed to do so; he wagged his feathery tail from side to side and accompanied the girls as far as the gate.
"Now, go home, go home," said Molly. She then took Nora"s hand, and they ran down the road in the direction of the village.
"If it were not that you are so miserable I should enjoy this awfully," said Molly.
"But how do you mean to wake Stephie?" asked Nora at last.
"Well, luckily for us, her aunt, Miss Truefitt, is rather deaf. Miss Truefitt has a bedroom at the back of the house, and Stephanotie sleeps in front. I shall fling gravel at the window. There is not a soul, as you see, in the streets. It"s well that it is such a quiet place; it will serve our purpose all the better."
They now found themselves outside Miss Truefitt"s house. Molly took up a handful of gravel and flung it in a great shower at Stephanotie"s window. Both girls then waited eagerly for a response.