"Hasten, Cecilia," murmured the rector: "it is later than you imagine."
"My God!" whispered the lady: "I hear a step ascending!"
The rector listened for a moment, and then said in a faint tone, "Yes: we are lost!"
A light flashed on the wall a few steps beneath those on which they were standing: it was too late to retreat; and in another moment Mrs. Kenrick made her appearance on the stairs.
"What! Mr. Tracy?" ejaculated the housekeeper, her eyes glancing from the rector in his dressing-gown to the lady in her cloak.
Then the good woman stood motionless and silent—her tongue tied, and her feet rooted to the spot, with astonishment.
Lady Cecilia drew her veil hastily over her countenance; but not before Mrs. Kenrick had recognised her.
A thousand ideas passed rapidly through the rector's brain during the two or three moments that succeeded this encounter.
At first he thought of inventing some excuse for his awkward situation;—next he felt inclined to spring upon his old housekeeper and strangle her;—then he conceived the desperate idea of rushing back to his room and blowing his brains out.
"Mrs. Kenrick," at length he exclaimed, "I hope you will say nothing of this."