She set her teeth, and by a supreme
effort of will went through the small duty that was required of her
steadily but swiftly. Her face was never turned away from the coffin the
whole time; and when she had finished her task she walked backwards to
the door, opened it, walked backwards out, and in another breath was
downstairs, and safe in the protecting arms of Sister Agnes.
Next night she insisted upon going entirely alone, and made so light of
the matter that Sister Agnes no longer opposed her wish to make the
midnight visit to the Black Room a part of her ordinary duty. But
inwardly Janet could never quite overcome her secret awe of the room and
its silent occupant. She always dreaded the coming of the hour that took
her there, and when her task was over, she never closed the door without
a feeling of relief. In this case, custom with her never bred
familiarity. To the last occasion of her going there she went the prey
of hidden fears--fears of she knew not what, which she derided to
herself even while they made her their victim. There was a morbid thread
running through the tissue of her nerves, which by intense force of will
might be kept from growing and spreading, but which no effort of hers
could quite pluck out or eradicate.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE DAWN OF LOVE.
Major Strickland did not forget his promise to Janet. On the eighth
morning after his return from London he walked over from Eastbury to
Deepley Walls, saw Lady Chillington, and obtained leave of absence for
Miss Hope for the day.
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