For the first few moments, she was
altogether too stunned by the suddenness of the shock to cry out
or make the least resistance, and was conscious of nothing but of
being rapidly borne along in somebody's arms. When this hazy
view of things passed away, her new sensation was, the intensely
uncomfortable one of being on the verge of suffocation. She made
one frantic but futile effort to free herself and scream for
help, but the strong arms held her with most loving tightness,
and her cry was drowned in the hot atmosphere within the shawl,
and never passed beyond it. Most assuredly Leoline would have
been smothered then and there, had their journey been much
longer; but, fortunately for her, it was only the few yards
between her house and the river. She knew she was then carried
down some steps, and she heard the dip of the oars in the water,
and then her bearer paused, and went through a short dialogue
with somebody else - with Count L'Estrange, she rather felt than
knew, for nothing was audible but a low murmur. The only word
she could make out was a low, emphatic "Remember!" in the count's
voice, and then she knew she was in a boat, and that it was
shoved off, and moving down the rapid river.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306