Alas! that was no refuge. She had been too much tired to hear
anything the night before, but to-night there was scratching,
nibbling, careering, fighting, squeaking, recoil and rally, charge
and rout, as the grey Hanover rat fought his successful battle with
his black English cousin all over the floors and stairs--nay, once
or twice came rushing up and over the bed--frightening its occupant
almost out of her senses, as she cowered under the bed-clothes, not
at all sure that they would not proceed to eating her. Happily
daylight came early. Aurelia, at its first ray, darted across the
room, starting in horror when she touched a soft thing with her bare
foot, opened the shutter, and threw open the casement. Light drove
the enemy back to their holes, and she had a few hours' sleep, but
when Mrs. Loveday came to the room when she was nearly dressed, she
exclaimed, "Why, miss, you look paler than you did yesterday."
"The rats!" said Aurelia under her breath.
"Ah! the rats! Of course they are bad enough in an old desolate place
like this. But you've done the shells right beautiful, that I will
say; and you may leave this house this very day if you will only give
your consent to what my Lady asks. You shall be sent down this very
day to Carminster, if so be you'll give up that ring of yours, and
sign a paper giving up all claim to be married to his Honour.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355