At Love's Cost

When she had undressed she went again to her father's door and listened

to his deep and regular breathing; then, at last, she went to bed; but

the sense of loneliness was so intense that she lay awake for hours

thinking of that bent figure walking in its sleep from the shadows of

the ruined chapel. For the future she would have to watch her father

closely, would perhaps have to lock the door of his room. Why had he

gone to the chapel? So far as she knew he was not in the habit of going

there; indeed, she did not remember having seen him go there in his

waking moments. She knew nothing of somnambulism; but she imagined that

he had gone in that direction by mere chance, that if he had happened

to find any impediment in his way he might as easily have gone in

another direction.

She fell asleep at last and slept an hour beyond her usual time, and so

deeply that Jessie had filled the cold bath without waking her beloved

young mistress. Ida dressed quickly, all the incidents of the preceding

night rushing through her mind, and hurried to her father's room; the

door was open, the room empty, and, with a sudden fear, she ran down

the stairs and found him in his usual seat in the library. She drew a

long breath and went and kissed him, wishing him good-morning as

casually as she could.

"You are up early this morning, father," she said, trying to keep her

tone free from any anxiety.

He glanced at the clock calmly.

"No, you are later," he said.

His eyes met hers with their usual expression of absentminded serenity.

"I--I was a little tired and overslept myself," she said. "Are--are you

quite well this morning, father?"

"Yes, quite well. Why not?" he replied, with slight surprise.

She drew a breath of relief: it was quite evident that he knew nothing

of that weird walk, and that it had not affected him injuriously.

"Nothing," she said, forcing a smile.

As she spoke, Jason, in his in-door livery, which, in some strange way,

looked as if it had shrunken with the figure which had worn, it so

long, came to the door, and in his husky voice said that breakfast was

ready; and Ida, taking her father's arm, led him into the dining-room

in which all their meals were served.

As she went to her place she glanced through the window, from which she

could see the steps at the corner of the terrace and a small part of

the ruined chapel, and she shuddered.