“Doctor, nothing but my knowledge of the sincerity of your attachment to the late family enables me to endure the violence of your conduct. But you push your privileges and my patience too far. You have no right to say that this girl shall not remain in attendance upon her unhappy mistress through the night. What harm can she do? Besides, if Miss Leaton is to be guarded by constables placed on the outside of her chamber door, it is but proper that she should have a female attendant in the room with her.”
“Very well,” said the doctor, grimly, “as far as I am concerned, she may keep her waiting-woman in; but I shall take very good care that she herself does not get out.”
And so saying, he went immediately to the two high Gothic windows that lighted the vast room, closed the strong oaken shutters, placed the iron bars across them, secured the latter with padlocks, and gave the keys to the head constable, who held the warrant. He next stationed one of the officers on the other side of the door leading to the other rooms of his suite of apartments, directing him to lock the door and keep the key in his pocket. And, finally, having ascertained that all the fastenings of the chamber were well secured, he prepared to withdraw.
Malcolm Montrose pressed the hand of Eudora to his heart, saying:
“Good-night, dearest Eudora. Confide in the God who watches over to deliver innocence.” And bending lowly to her ear, he whispered:
“Hope.” Then raising his head and looking kindly toward Tabitha, he said:
“Good girl, take great care of your mistress to-night.”
“You may trust me for that, sir,” answered Miss Tabs, confidently.
And once more pressing the hand of Eudora, he resigned it and withdrew from the room.
The doctor and the head constable followed. They all paused in the hall outside until the constable had double-locked the door, and put the key in his pocket, and taken his station before the room.