A Heart's Bitterness — page 204: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

146 4 HEART'S BITTERNESS. “< Helen Hope!” oN Helen dropped the letters, wheeled about, faced Violet. «© Move or speak, and you die!” She had a small, shining pistol in her hand. As by an illumination Violet remembered that the heavy door of the closet had no handle on the inside. With a sudden, desperate motion, she shut the door. The closing of the door left Violet in utter darkness. She had by her swift motion taken her lifc in her hands, and could hardly realize that she was safe, and Helen was a prisoner in the strong closet. Hither her motion to the easily moving door had been too quick and vigorous, or Helen had not been able to resolve to fire upon her. She had made her a prisoner; what should she do with her?” Leigh was in London. Instinctively Violet desired to avoid publicity. She stood, cold and trembling, for a few minutes, and then, regaining self-control, went up to the servants’ gallery, and tapped at Adam Moreland’s door. The old man was wakeful, and he was in his dressing- gown and beside her in the hall in an instant. «Dear lady, what is it?” ‘““Adam, did you ever see a woman named Helen Hope ?” «‘ Yes; I know of her, my lady.” ‘«She is Lord Leigh’s enemy, is she not?” «‘T fear she has much cause. She is a dangerous woman.” «¢ Adam, she has been here in disguise, as Mrs. Dawson.” “Qh, my lady! has she poisoned the child?” ‘Hush, Adam! your little lord is safe; so am I.” Then she briefly told the story of her midnight fright, and of her prisoner. ‘« My lady, be sure she was looking among my late lord’s papers for something to injure Lord Leigh. I make no doubt she has, for revenge, gone over to Colonel Harting- ton’s party, to try and harm my lord and his son. She has come for that. She had the keys.” ‘*T saw a small bunch of bight new keys by her.” ‘“ Well, my lady, we must get her out, and search her for papers. She must get none away. Then what?” ‘“‘T can tell you better after that. Come with me, Adam,” Eomicbooks fe (@)