‘Not a soul remains,’ she said. She stood and mused. ‘Thank God!’ was the next observation.

Caroline repeated the ejaculation, not in so steady a tone. She was trembling much; her heart was beating fast and thick; her face was cold, her forehead damp.

‘Thank God for us!’ she reiterated; ‘but what will happen elsewhere? They have passed us by, that they may make sure of others.’

‘They have done well,’ returned Shirley with composure. ‘The others will defend themselves—they can do it—they are prepared for them; with us it is otherwise. My finger was on the trigger of this pistol. I was quite ready to give that man, if he had entered, such a greeting as he little calculated on; but behind him followed three hundred. I had neither three hundred hands nor three hundred weapons. I could not have effectually protected either you, myself, or the two poor women asleep under that roof; therefore I again earnestly thank God for insult and peril escaped.’

After a second pause, she continued:

‘What is it my duty and wisdom to do next? Not to stay here inactive, I am glad to say, but, of course, to walk over to the Hollow.’

‘To the Hollow, Shirley?’

‘To the Hollow. Will you go with me?’

‘Where those men are gone?’

‘They have taken the highway: we should not encounter them: the road over the fields is as safe, silent, and solitary as a path through the air would be. Will you go?’

‘Yes,’ was the answer, given mechanically, not because the speaker wished, or was prepared to go; or indeed, was otherwise than scared at the prospect of going, but because she felt she could not abandon Shirley.

‘Then we must fasten up these windows, and leave all as secure as we can behind us. Do you know what we are going for, Cary?’

‘Yes—no—because you wish it.’

‘Is that all? And are you so obedient to a mere caprice of mine? What a docile wife you would make to a stern husband. The moon’s face is not whiter than yours at this moment; and the aspen at the gate does not tremble more than your busy fingers, and so, tractable, and terror-struck, and dismayed, and devoted, you would follow me into the thick of real danger! Cary, let me give your fidelity a motive; we are going for Moore’s sake—to see if we can be of use to him—to make an effort to warn him of what is coming.’

‘To be sure! I am a blind, weak fool, and you are acute and sensible, Shirley! I will go with you! I will gladly go with you!’

‘I do not doubt it. You would die blindly and meekly for me, but you would intelligently and gladly die for Moore; but in truth there is no question of death to-night—we run no risk at all.’

Caroline rapidly closed shutter and lattice.

‘Do not fear that I shall not have breath to run as fast as you can possibly run, Shirley. Take my hand; let us go straight across the fields.’