“Let me go, let me go!” Euphra almost screamed. Then suddenly opening her eyes, she stared at Margaret in a bewildered fashion, like one waking from the dead.
“Euphra! dear Euphra!” said Margaret.
“Oh, Margaret! is it really you?” exclaimed Euphra, flinging her arms about her. “Oh, I am glad. Ah! you see what I must have been about. I suppose I knew when I was doing it, but I don’t know now. I have forgotten all about it. Oh dear! oh dear! I thought it would come to this.”
“Come to bed, dear. You couldn’t help it. It was not yourself. There is not more than half of you awake, when you walk in your sleep.”
They went to bed. Euphra crept close to Margaret, and cried herself asleep again. The next day she had a bad head-ache. This with her always followed somnambulation. She did not get up all that day. When Hugh called again in the evening, he heard she was better, but still in bed.
Falconer joined Hugh at the Golden Staff, at night; but they had no better success than before. Falconer went out alone, for Hugh wanted to keep himself fresh. Though very strong, he was younger and less hardened than Falconer, who could stand an incredible amount of labour and lack of sleep. Hugh would have given way under the half.
CHAPTER XVIII. VICTORY
O my admired mistress, quench not out The holy fires within you, though temptations Shower down upon you: clasp thine armour on; Fight well, and thou shalt see, after these wars, Thy head wear sunbeams, and thy feet touch stars.
MASSINGER.—The Virgin Martyr.