A sudden disturbance at the door roused me from my trance. I looked up, and beheld—what?—Can you imagine what? No, my friend, you could not to the day of judgment. I saw, in short, my great mother come striding towards me, with outspread arms, and calling, 'my daughter, my daughter!' in a voice that might waken the dead.
My heart died within me: down I darted from the bower, and ran for shelter behind Lady Gwyn.
'Give me back my daughter!' vociferated the dreadful woman, advancing close to her ladyship.
'Oh! do no such thing!' whispered I, pulling her ladyship by the sleeve. 'Take half—all my property; but do not be the death of me!'
'What are you muttering there, Miss?' cried my mother, espying me. 'What makes you stand peeping over that wretch's shoulder?'
'Indeed, Ma'am,' stammered I, 'I am—I am taking your part.'
'Who could have presumed to liberate this woman?' cried Lady Gwyn.
'The Condottieri,' said my mother, 'headed by the great Damno Sulphureo Volcanoni.'
'Then you must return to your prison, this moment,' cried Lady Gwyn.
My mother fell on her knees, and began blubbering; while the guests got round, and interceded for her being restored to liberty. I too thought it my duty to say something (my mother all the time sobbing horribly); till, at length, Lady Gwyn consented—for my sake, she said,—to set the poor wretch free; but on this special condition, that there should be no prosecution for false imprisonment.