The sleeper scarcely seemed to breathe. A narcotic influence was evidently upon her, which had been used to still some previous pain; but all traces of anguish had departed from her forehead, from which the bright hair was swept back, giving its broad, massive grandeur to the light. A halo of happiness lay upon her face that made your breath come quick; the wealth of a great soul seemed breaking over her noble features as she slept. The eyes underneath those broad lids were swimming in joy, that broke through like perfume from the white leaves of a rose. The atmosphere which hung about her seemed warm and fragrant, like that of an Indian summer in North America.
There stood her contrast, my gipsy mother, with the hot blood of her race burning in her eyes, her forehead, and that now firm mouth. I looked in her face, and thought she was about to spring upon her prey, for the passions burning there grew fierce as death. She bent down and scrutinized the sleeper, then felt in her hair, and looked sharply around the room, I thought for some weapon.
“My oath, my oath!” she muttered, casting her great eyes around, “nothing but death can separate us; why not her death?”
I sprang forward, wild with terror, and caught hold of her dress.
“Mamma, oh, mamma, come away, come away,” I pleaded, in a whisper.
She yielded to me, and walked slowly from the chamber, like one moving in a dream.
“Hush!” she said, as we stood in the hall, “I thought it had been his room. Where is it, child, you know?”
“Come away—come away!” I whispered, still keeping a firm grasp on her dress. “It is dark—I’m afraid.”
She broke from me, and I lost her. The faint sound of a foot reached me once, but I had no courage to follow, and cowered down in the hall, shivering and noiseless. It seemed to me that I remained a year in that black stillness. I could endure it no longer, but groped my way to the staircase out into the open air.
The moon was up, but overwhelmed by an ocean of clouds. Now and then a leaden gleam broke out, and this gave me courage to wait and watch.