She rose, after waiting for a few moments to let her head get clearer, and walked on over the soft carpet toward the dark door, which kept on receding as she went, while the power seemed to be given her to see through it as if it were some strange transparency. Away beyond it was John Garstang, waving her on towards him, always keeping the same distance off, till it grew darker and darker, and then lighter, for the fire was blazing up and the wood was crackling, as there was the sound of a poker being placed back in the fender; and there, as she opened her eyes widely, stood the woman with the chamber candlestick held high above her head, gazing at her in the former inquiring way. "It is a part of a nightmare-like dream," said Kate to herself; "my head is confused with trouble and want of rest;" and as in a troubled way she lay back in the chair, she fully expected to see the face of the woman give place to that over the door, and then to John Garstang moving slowly on and on and beckoning her to come away from Northwood Manor House, where her aunt and uncle were trying to hurry her off to the church, where Claud was waiting, and Doctor Leigh and his sister stood in deep mourning, gazing at her with reproachful eyes. As her thoughts ran in that way she mentally pictured everything with a vividness that was most strange, and she was rapidly gliding back into insensibility when the woman spoke, and she started back, with her head quite clear, while a strange feeling of irritability and anger made her features contract. "Awake, miss?" said the woman, plaintively. "Yes, yes; why did you come back? I will ring when I want you--both bells." "There was the fire, miss; I couldn't let that go out I was obliged to come every hour, and I left it too long now, and had to start it with a bundle of wood." Kate sat up and stared back at her, then round the room, to see that the candles were burning--four--on mantelpiece and dressing-table. "Didn't hear me set the fresh ones up, miss, did you?" said the woman, noticing the direction of her eyes. "T'others only burned till twelve." "Burned till twelve--come every hour? Why, what time is it?" "Just struck three, miss. Breakfast will be ready as soon as you are; but you'd ha' been a deal better if you'd gone to bed. I did put you a clean night-dress, and it was beautifully aired. Becky held it before the kitchen fire ever so long, for it only wanted poking together and burned up well." "I--I don't understand," faltered Kate. "Three o'clock?" "Yes, miss; and as black as pitch outside. Reg'lar London fog, but master's gone out in it all the same. He said he'd be back to dinner, and you wasn't to be disturbed on no account, for all you wanted was plenty of sleep." "Then I have been thoroughly asleep?" "Yes, miss; about ten hours I should say; but you'd have been a deal better if you'd gone to bed. It do rest the spine of your back so."