"I suppose you couldn't get down and open a gate? There's one right in front of us. I can see it's closed."
His eyes must have had the cat's quality of being able to penetrate the darkness; she could see nothing.
"I might be able to get down--if I had to tumble, but I doubt if I'd ever be able to get up again."
He grunted as if in disapprobation.
"Can you hold the reins while I get down?"
"I daresay I could do that."
He passed her the reins and descended. She heard a gate swing back upon its hinges. He reappeared at the horse's head.
"I'd better lead her through and up to the house; it's as black as the devil's painted under the trees. I ought to have brought my lamps, but I came away in such a hurry. When some folks are dying they will not wait."
They passed through a darkness which was so intense that she could not see the horse which was drawing her on. The avenue seemed a long one. It was some minutes before, drawing clear of the overhanging foliage, they stopped in front of a house which loomed grim and ominous in the shadows. Apparently their approach had been heard. No sooner had they stopped than the door was thrown wide open. The figure of a woman was seen peering out into the darkness, with a lamp in her hand.
"Is it the doctor?" she demanded.