By the time that she had with uneasy thoughts laid her fair cheek upon her

pillow, her mother's servant brought a draught; a suspicion again crossed

her at this novel proceeding, sufficiently alarming to determine her not to

take the potion; but dislike of contention, and a wish to discover whether

there was any just foundation for her conjectures, made her, she said,

almost instinctively, and in contradiction to her usual frankness, pretend

to swallow the medicine. Then, agitated as she had been by her mother's

violence, and now by unaccustomed fears, she lay unable to sleep, starting

at every sound. Soon her door opened softly, and on her springing up, she

heard a whisper, "Not asleep yet," and the door again closed. With a

beating heart she expected another visit, and when after an interval her

chamber was again invaded, having first assured herself that the intruders

were her mother and an attendant, she composed herself to feigned sleep. A

step approached her bed, she dared not move, she strove to calm her

palpitations, which became more violent, when she heard her mother say

mutteringly, "Pretty simpleton, little do you think that your game is

already at an end for ever."

For a moment the poor girl fancied that her mother believed that she had

drank poison: she was on the point of springing up; when the Countess,

already at a distance from the bed, spoke in a low voice to her companion,

and again Idris listened: "Hasten," said she, "there is no time to lose--

it is long past eleven; they will be here at five; take merely the clothes

necessary for her journey, and her jewel-casket." The servant obeyed; few

words were spoken on either side; but those were caught at with avidity by

114

The Last Man