Returning to Geraldine's room, she cautiously dressed the sleeping girl in warm, thick shoes and stockings, and a thick blanket-wrapper, placing close at hand a heavy cloak and hood, evidently making her ready for a mysterious journey.
In the dressing-room beyond, she had already packed a hand-bag with clothing, which she now brought in and placed near the door.
While she was dressing her, Geraldine had stirred and moaned several times, but the influence of the drug held her senses bound too fast for her to awake; so Miss Erroll had everything ready, and was crouched in a chair waiting, when there came a low, soft scratching at the door, the signal agreed on between them.
She started, growing pale as ashes, her heart sinking in her breast. She had been hoping and praying that he would not come.
Stealing to the door, she admitted Standish, who was not a very pleasant object to see in his black crape mask.
Not a word passed between them, but she silently wrapped Geraldine in the cloak and hood ready for her journey.
The daring actor lifted the girl as though she had been a little child, and taking the hand-bag also, stole from the house undetected, and made his way to a sleigh that was in waiting around the nearest corner.
Then Miss Erroll, shivering like one in an ague fit, proceeded to finish her work.
She locked the door, and re-made the dainty bed, so that it had the appearance of not having been slept in that night.
Upon the pillow she pinned the note that she had written in Geraldine's hand, and to which she had signed Geraldine's name.