when I saw the door open.
Oh, I am so frightened! I panted.
My dear young lady! my dear young lady! you cannot think how
caressing and soothing his manner was and what has frightened you, my
dear young lady?
But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I was
keenly on my guard against him.
I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing, I answered. But it
is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was frightened and ran
out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in there!
Only that? said he, looking at me keenly.
Why, what did you think? I asked.
Why do you think that I lock this door?
I am sure that I do not know.
It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you see? He
was still smiling in the most amiable manner.
I am sure if I had known
Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over that
threshold again here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of
rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon I ll throw you
to the mastiff.
I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that I
must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing until I
found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I thought of you,
Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without some advice. I was
frightened of the house, of the man, of the woman, of the servants,
even of the child. They were all horrible to me. If I could only bring
you down all would be well. Of course I might have fled from the house,
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