I am not aware whether fainting was as much the fashion among the fair
sex, in the days (or rather the nights) of which I have the honor to
hold forth, as at the present time; but I am inclined to think not,
from the simple fact that Leoline, though like John Bunyan, "grievously
troubled and tossed about in her mind," did nothing of the kind. For the
first few moments, she was altogether too stunned by the suddenness of
the shock to cry out or make the least resistance, and was conscious of
nothing but of being rapidly borne along in somebody's arms. When this
hazy view of things passed away, her new sensation was, the intensely
uncomfortable one of being on the verge of suffocation. She made one
frantic but futile effort to free herself and scream for help, but the
strong arms held her with most loving tightness, and her cry was drowned
in the hot atmosphere within the shawl, and never passed beyond it. Most
assuredly Leoline would have been smothered then and there, had their
journey been much longer; but, fortunately for her, it was only the few
yards between her house and the river. She knew she was then carried
down some steps, and she heard the dip of the oars in the water, and
then her bearer paused, and went through a short dialogue with somebody
else--with Count L'Estrange, she rather felt than knew, for nothing was
audible but a low murmur. The only word she could make out was a low,
emphatic "Remember!" in the count's voice, and then she knew she was in
a boat, and that it was shoved off, and moving down the rapid river. The
feeling of heat and suffocation was dreadful and as her abductor placed
her on some cushions, she made another desperate but feeble effort to
free herself from the smothering shawl, but a hand was laid lightly on
hers, and a voice interposed.
"Lady, it is quite useless for you to struggle, as you are irrevocably
in my power, but if you will promise faithfully not to make any outcry,
and will submit to be blindfolded, I shall remove this oppressive
muffling from your head. Tell me if you will promise."
He had partly raised the shawl, and a gush of free air came revivingly
in, and enabled Leoline to gasp out a faint "I promise!" As she spoke,
it was lifted off altogether, and she caught one bright fleeting glimpse
of the river, sparkling and silvery in the moonlight; of the bright blue
sky, gemmed with countless stars, and of some one by her side in the
dress of a court-page, whose face was perfectly unknown to her. The next
instant, a bandage was bound tightly over her eyes, excluding every ray
of light, while the strange voice again spoke apologetically, "Pardon, lady, but it is my orders! I am commanded to treat you with
every respect, but not to let you see where you are borne to."