He paused, gazing back along the passage to where he could see the dim reflection of the lamp in the hall, and as he stood there, the faintly heard voice of Nurse Elisia came once more to his ear. He drew a long, deep breath, and then, half aloud:
“I had not calculated on this,” he thought. “I fled from the temptation, and it has followed me here. And she—she has never given me a second thought.” He turned the handle quickly, and entered the room.
“Ah, that is right, Neil,” said Aunt Anne. “Will you stay here while I take nurse to have some supper? She says she is not too tired to sit up to-night.”
“Absurd!” said Neil, in a low, harsh voice. “After this long journey? Nurse, you will go with Mrs Barnett, and have some refreshment; then get to bed, and come and relieve me about seven.”
“But, my dear Neil, you, too, want rest,” said Aunt Anne.
“Aunt, be good enough not to interfere,” replied Neil shortly. “Nurse Elisia, you heard my orders.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, very well, my dear,” said Aunt Anne, in an ill-used tone. “I suppose you know best. This way, nurse.”
Neil stood watching them as they left the room, and turned back toward the bed with a sigh of relief.
“I have not lost my strength of mind, then, after all,” he muttered, as he drew himself up. “I will master it.”