|Anna Webb submitted unrepiningly to the penance enjoined by Father
Norham. She remained in her own room, and was not distracted by a visit
either from her mother, or Dorothy. Some refreshments were brought her
by a female servant, but they were untouched. Several hours were thus
passed in solitude and prayer, and night had come on. She wondered when
the priest would come, according to his promise, to take her to the
chapel.
At length, he appeared, and desired her to follow him. Wishing to avoid
the servants, who were crowded in the great hall, he led her down a
back staircase to a small room on the ground floor, where he obtained a
lantern. In another minute, they had crossed the court, and reached the
door of the chapel.
The little structure, it has been said, was screened by trees, and the
place was so dark, it would have been difficult to find the door, save
with the lantern's aid.
A slight shiver ran through Anna's frame as she entered the building,
but she attributed the feeling to the damp atmosphere. Meanwhile, Father
Norham had lighted a couple of tapers at the altar, and their feeble
glimmer enabled her to survey the place.
Its simplicity and diminutive size pleased her, and reassured her.
Knowing she would have to remain there alone till midnight, she
might have felt some misgivings had the room been large and sombre.
Fortunately, she was not aware that there was a vault beneath, in which
rested the earl's ancestors. Marble tablets were on the walls, but she
did not read them.
After an exhortation, to which she listened devoutly, the priest
withdrew. Thus left alone, she knelt down at the altar, and was soon
engrossed in prayer.
For awhile she continued thus employed, but at length a feeling of
drowsiness came over her, which she found it impossible to resist.
How long she slept she could not tell, but when she awoke the place was
buried in darkness.
What had happened while she slumbered? And how came the tapers to be
extinguished?
Very much alarmed, she started to her feet, and somehow--though she
scarcely knew how--made her way to the door.