Surprised to find himself alone, Rupert put his hand to his
forehead and looked vacantly around.
"My God, what have I done?" he thought.
He was trembling violently, and the fury of the passion that had
possessed him and had given his mighty muscles a force more than
human, was still upon him.
Going to the window, he looked out, for he did not quite know what
had happened and from it he looked back at the wardrobe door.
"Oh, yes," he said. "Yes."
He ran to it and tore open the door and from within very tenderly
and gently he lifted down the half-swooning Ella who, securely
gagged and tightly bound, had been thrust into its interior to
conceal her from him.
Hurriedly he freed her from her bonds and from the handkerchief that
was tied over her mouth and holding her in his arms like a child,
pressing her close to his heart, he carried her lightly out of that
dreadful room.
Only once did she stir, only once did she speak, when lifting her
pale, strained face to him she murmured very faintly something in
which he just caught the words:
"Deede Dawson."
"He'll trouble us no more nor any one else, I think," answered
Rupert, and she said no more but snuggled down in his arms as though
with a feeling of perfect security and safety.
He took her to her own room and left her with her mother, and then
went down to the hall and took a chair and sat at the front door.
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