"God be praised!" said Flutter-Duck, slowly uncovering her eyes. "Now Rachel will come back."
And with renewed hope they waited on, and the deathly silence again possessed the room.
All at once they heard a light step under the window; the father threw it open and saw a female form outlined in the darkness. There was a rat-tat-tat at the door.
"Ah, there she is!" hysterically ejaculated Flutter-Duck, starting up.
"The Holy One be blessed!" cried Lewis, rushing down the stairs.
A strange figure, the head covered by a green tartan shawl, greeted him. A cold ague passed over his limbs.
"Thank God, it's all right," said Mrs. Lefkovitch. "I see from your light you are still working; but isn't it time my Emanuel left off?"
"Your Emanuel?" gasped Lewis, with a terrible suspicion. "He went home early in the day; he was taken ill."
Flutter-Duck, who had crept at his heels bearing a candle, cried out, "God in Israel! She has flown away with Emanuel."
"Hush, you piece of folly!" whispered Lewis furiously.