"But there _are_ rats here, do you see, do you hear? Ugh!" Mrs. Tiralla again gave a loud shriek, her face was pale, and, opening her sparkling eyes wide as if with terror, she seized hold of the girl's arm. "There was one! Ugh! Horrid animal!" She shook herself and gave a jump, as if one of the long-tailed monsters were already creeping up her warm body. "Holy Mother!" As though infected with the exaggerated fear of her mistress, the maid now also gave a shrill scream and let the lamp fall, as her mistress [Pg 3] before the dish. It broke into many pieces and went out. They stood in pitch darkness. "You stupid girl!" screamed her mistress nervously, and raised her hand as if to strike her. The maid ducked down and jumped aside, as though she could see the lifted hand in spite of the darkness; her suppressed chuckling was heard in a distant corner of the cellar. "If Pani is going to hit me, ha-ha! I shall stop here, ha-ha!" "Nonsense. Hit you? I shouldn't think of such a thing," protested Mrs. Tiralla, trying to conciliate her. "Just come here. Give me your hand." "Oh, no, no! I am sure Pani will hit me." "Give me your hand, I say--at once. I'm not going to do anything to you, stupid. Marianna, where are you?" Beautiful Mrs. Tiralla now seemed to be seized with real terror--a terror that was much more genuine than before. Her voice trembled with anxiety, her bosom heaved and sank rapidly; one moment she felt quite cold and the next her head burnt. Ugh! how dark it was. Just like a grave! She felt icy cold right down her back. Ah, how dreadful to be here in the dark, quite alone with _those_ thoughts. "Marianna!" She cried so loudly that it echoed from the vaulted roof. "Marianna, where are you?" No answer. "Marianna, I'll give you my silk apron which you like so much. Marianna, but where are you?" "Why, I'm here. I only went a couple of steps away from you. Here, Pani, here." The girl's warm hand seized hold of her mistress's cold, moist fingers, "So that Pani doesn't knock against anything," she whispered in an ingratiating voice. [Pg 4] Thus hand-in-hand the two women groped their way in the dark, until they came to the cellar steps.