And the sounder you
sleep the better, unless you want to sleep uncommonly sound for the
future, my lady."
The ruffian seized his daughter by the arm, and half pushed, half flung
her into a room, the door of which stood open. It was the dreary room
which she called her own. Milsom shut the door upon her, and locked it
with a key which he took from his pocket--a key which locked every door
in the house. "And now, I flatter myself, you're safe, my pretty
singing-bird," he muttered.
He went down stairs, and returned to his guest, who had been pressed to
eat and drink by Dennis Wayman, and who had yielded good-naturedly to
that gentleman's hospitable attentions.
* * * * *
Alone in her room, Jenny Milsom opened the window, and sat looking out
into the inky darkness of the night, and listening to the voices of the
three men in the room below.
The voices sounded very distinctly in that dilapidated old house. Every
now and then a hearty shout of laughter seemed to shake the crazy
rafters; but presently the revellers grew silent. Jenny knew they were
busy with the cards.
"Yes, yes," she murmured; "it all happens as it happened that night--
first the loud voices and laughter; then the silence; then--Great
Heaven! will the end be like the end of that night?"
She clasped her hands in silent agony, and sank in a crouching position
by the open window, with her head lying on the sill.
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