It was about two o’clock when Mrs. Archibald suddenly arose from her seat by the window and lighted a candle. Then she pulled down the shades of the windows, front and back, after which she went to her husband’s cot and put her hand upon his shoulder.
“Hector,” said she, “wake up.”
In a moment Mr. Archibald was staring at her. “What is the matter?” he exclaimed. “Are you sick?”
“No,” said she, “but I have something very important to say to you. I want you to get up and go away with me, and take Margery.”
Mr. Archibald sat up in bed. He was now in full possession of his senses. “What!” said he, “elope? And where to?”
“Yes,” said she, “that is exactly what I mean, and we will go to Sadler’s first, and then home.”
“Do you mean now?” said he.
“Yes—that is, as soon as it is light,” she replied.
“Are you positively sure you are awake, Harriet?” asked Mr. Archibald.
“Awake!” she said. “I have not been asleep to-night. Don’t you see I am dressed?” And she drew a chair to the bedside and sat down. “I know more about what is going on than you do, Hector,” she said, “and I tell you if we stay any longer in this camp, there is going to be great trouble. That young Raybold pays no attention to what you said about keeping away from us. He comes here, when he pleases, and he says he intends to come. I asked you to take a walk with me this evening because I saw him coming to the camp-fire and I knew that you would resent it. To-night I saw him walking up and down in front of our cabin, and I believe he intended to try to speak to Margery. I went out to him myself, and he was positively insulting. If the bishop had not happened to come up, I believe he would have stayed here and defied me. But he made him go.