The next two days passed as usual. On the third day an event happened.
In appearance, it was nothing more important than a ring at the
drawing-room bell. In reality, it was the forerunner of approaching
catastrophe--the formidable herald of the end.
It was Magdalen's business to answer the bell. On reaching the
drawing-room door, she knocked as usual. There was no reply. After again
knocking, and again receiving no answer, she ventured into the room, and
was instantly met by a current of cold air flowing full on her face. The
heavy sliding door in the opposite wall was pushed back, and the Arctic
atmosphere of Freeze-your-Bones was pouring unhindered into the empty
room.
She waited near the door, doubtful what to do next; it was certainly
the drawing-room bell that had rung, and no other. She waited, looking
through the open doorway opposite, down the wilderness of the dismantled
Hall.
A little consideration satisfied her that it would be best to go
downstairs again, and wait there for a second summons fro m the bell.
On turning to leave the room, she happened to look back once more, and
exactly at that moment she saw the door open at the opposite extremity
of the Banqueting-Hall--the door leading into the first of the
apartments in the east wing.
Pages:
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089