She would have thrown up the sash, but found she could not. She twisted her handkerchief round her gloved hand, and dashed it through a pane.
“Men!” she cried, in a loud, commanding voice, “come at once.”
The moment she went to the window, I sprang to the door, locked it, put the key in my pocket, and set my back to the door.
I heard the men thundering at the hall-door. Lady Cairnedge turned as if she would herself go and open to them, but seeing me, she understood what I had done, and went back to the window.
“Come here! Come to me here—to the window!” she cried.
John had been watching with a calm, determined look. He came and stood between us.
“John,” I said, “leave your mother to me.”
“She will kill you!” he answered.
“You might kill her!” I replied.
I darted to the chimney, where a clear fire was burning, caught up the poker, and thrust it between the bars.