On and on, for an apparently interminable
time, went the coach with the wearied and affrighted girl, through
the dark thicket, until at last she emerged, into a park, where she
could again see the pale after-glow of the sunset, and presently she
found herself before a tall house, perfectly dark, with strange
fantastic gables and chimneys, ascending far above against the sky.
All was still as death, except the murmuring caws of the rooks in
their nests, and the chattering shriek of a startled blackbird. The
servant from behind ran up the steps and thundered at the door; it
was opened, a broad line of light shone out, some figures appeared,
and a man in livery came forward to open the carriage door, but to
Aurelia's inexpressible horror, his face was perfectly black, with
negro features, rolling eyes, and great white teeth!
She hardly knew what she did, the dark carriage was formidable on one
side, the apparition on the other! The only ray of comfort was in
the face of a stout, comely, rosy maid-servant, who was holding the
candle on the threshold, and with one bound the poor traveller
dashed past the black hand held out to help her, and rushing up to
the girl, caught hold of her, and gasped out, "Oh! What is that?
Where am I? Where have they taken me?"
"Lawk, ma'am," said the girl, with a broad grin, "that 'ere bees only
Mr.
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