A soft, sweet sound responded to her touch, like the harmonious tinkling of a silver bell.
The more she looked about her the more she was astonished and confounded at the brilliance, beauty and elegance of all things.
She heard no one approach, but turning suddenly beheld a tall servant, splendidly attired, but his face and bare arms were as black as ebony.
Ellen started.
The servant bowed lowly and smiled.
“Where am I?” the startled girl inquired, with a flushed face and flashing eyes. “Who has brought me hither, and for what?”
The tall Nubian smiled again.
He bowed more lowly than ever, but spoke not.
He motioned to her that he was both deaf and dumb.
“Set me at liberty!” gasped the captive girl, for the first time realizing her true position, “set me free; I cannot breath the atmosphere of this gilded prison. Oh! let me once more flee to my poor old father, or my heart will break!”