She shrieked not now—she screamed not any more; but it was not resignation that sealed her lips;—it was despair!
Suddenly she became aware of the gradual disappearance of the three nuns; as she descended, the wall seemed to rise slowly upward and cover them from her view.
Then, for an instant there was a slight shock given to the platform whereon the chair was placed—as if it rested on something beneath.
But no;—the fearful descent still went on—for, when she again stretched forth her hand to touch the walls, they appeared to be slowly rising—rising!
She was now involved in almost total darkness; but far—far overhead the dim luster of the lamp was seen; and the four walls of the gulf now appeared to touch the ceiling of the room above, and to inclose that faint but still distinct orb within the narrow space thus shut in.
The noise of the machinery also reached her still—but merely with a humming sound that was only just audible.
For an instant she doubted whether she was still descending; but, alas! when her arms were a third time convulsively stretched forth, her fair hands felt the walls slipping away from her touch—gliding upward, as it were, with steady emotion.
Then she knew that the descent had not ceased.
But whither was she going? to what awful depth was she progressing?
Already she conjectured, was she at least sixty yards beneath that dim yellow orb which every instant appeared to shine as through a deeper, deepening mist.