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156 again opéned; the housebreaker shifted his position restlessly, and, after dozing again and again for two or three minutes, and as often springing up with a look of terror, and gazing vacantly about him, was suddenly stricken, as it were, while in the very attitude of rising, into a deep and heavy sleep. The grasp of his hand relaxed, the upraised arm fell languidly by his side, and he lay like one in a profound trance. c The laudanum has taken effect at last," murmured the girl as she rose from the bedside. "I may be too late even now." She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl, looking fearfully round from time to time, as if, despite the sleeping draught, she expected every moment to feel the pressure of Sikes’s heavy hand upon her shoulder; then stooping softly over the bed, she kissed the robber’s lips, and opening and closing the room-door with noiseless touch, hurried from the house. A watchman was crying half-past nine down a dark passage through which she fans to pass in gaining the main thoroughre. “Has it long gone the half hour?" asked the giri. sc [t"]1 strike the hour in another quarter," said the man, raising his lantern to her face. c And I cannot get there in less than an hour or more," muttered Nancy, brushing swiftly past him, and gliding rapidly down the street. Many of the shops were already closing in the back lanes and avenues through which she tracked her way in making from Spitalfields towards the West-End of London. The clock struck ten, increasing her impatience. She tore along the narrow pavement, eibowing the passengers from side to side, and darting almost under the horses’ heads, crossed crowded streets, where clusters of persons were eagerly waiching their opportunity to do the like. *'T"he woman is mad!” said the people, turning to look after her as she rushed away. Whe: sne reached the more wealthy quarter of the town, the streets were comparatively deserted, and here her headlong progress seemed to excite a greater curiosity in the stragglers whom she hurried past. Some quickened their pace behind, as though to see whither she was hastening at such an unusual rate; and a few made head upon her, and looked back, surprised at her undiminished speed, but they fell off one by one; and when she neared her place of destination she was alone. It was a family hotel, in a quiet but handsome street near Hyde Park. As the brilliant light of the lamp which burnt before the door guided her to the spot, the clock struck eleven. She had loitered for a few paces as though irresolute, and sound determined her, and she stepped into the hall. The porter’s seat was vacant. She looked round with an air of incertitude, and advanced towards the stairs. ** Now, young woman,” said a smartlydressed female, looking out from a door behind her, “ who do you want here ?” * A lady who is stopping in this house,” answered the girl. “A lady!" was the reply, accompanied with a scornful look. “ What lady, pray !" “Miss Maylie," said Nancy. The young woman, who had by this time noted her appearance, replied only by a look of virtuous disdain, and summoned a man to answer her. To him Nancy repeated her request. “ What name am I to say?” asked the waiter. “It’s of no use saying any,” replied Nancy. 6 Nor business?" said the man. c No, nor that neither,” rejoined the girl. “J must see the lady.” “Come,” said the man, pushing her towards the door, “none of this! Take yourself off, will you?" “] shall be carried out if I go!” said the girl violently, “and I can make that a job that two of you won’t like to do. Isn’t there any body here,” she said, look ing round, “that will see a simple message carried for a poor wretch like me?” This appeal produced an effect on a good-tempered-faced man-cook, who with some other of the servants was looking on, and who stepped forward to interfere. “'Take it up for her Joe, can’t you?” said this person. “'What’s the good?" replied the man. “ You don’t suppose the young lady will see such as her, do you? This allusion to Nancy’s doubtful character raised a vast quantity of chaste wrath in the bosoms of four housemaids, who remarked with great fervour that the creature was a disgrace to her sex, and strongly advocated her being thrown ruthlessly into the kennel.
