"Jemmy--show 'em up!" exclaimed Grab, briskly--on which Jem went forward, followed by Mr. Aubrey, almost entirely supporting Mrs. Aubrey--who appeared very faint--Grab bringing up the rear--up the narrow and angular staircase. This led them into a tolerably well-furnished room; and Mrs. Aubrey, on entering it, sank exhausted on the sofa. Here, again, the two windows were strongly secured with iron bars, which gave a peculiarly miserable appearance to the room. The unhappy couple gazed around them for a moment, in silence. "Beg your pardon, sir," said Grab, entering the room, "but must trouble you for _two, twelve, six_; always pay in advance, as I told you a-coming." Aubrey involuntarily shuddering, took out his pocket-book--Mrs. Aubrey bursting into tears--and handed to Grab the only money he had--his five-pound note, requesting change. "The lady would, perhaps, like a glass of negus?" inquired Grab. "Certainly--bring up immediately a glass of cold sherry and water," replied Aubrey. "That will be just _two, five, six_ to bring back--shall have it directly, sir--change and all. Here's your bedroom, sir," he added--opening a small door opposite the window--and then withdrew by that through which they had entered. The moment that they were left alone, Aubrey folded his arms tenderly around his wife, and kissed her cold pale cheek; and then helped her to remove her bonnet, which, with its heavy black veil, evidently oppressed her. Her rich dark hair fell disordered over her tippet; and with her flushed cheek and restless eye, would have given the beholder a vivid picture of beauty and virtue in distress. "Do promise me, Charles!" said she, looking fondly at him, "that I may go with you wherever they will allow you to take me!" "I trust, Agnes, that I shall be released before long. This is really a comfortable room, considering!" he added, evading her question. "If only Kate and the children were here," she replied tremulously. "Poor things! I wonder what they are doing just now--Kate will break her heart, poor girl, if we don't return soon!" "Never fear, Agnes. But let us look what kind of a bedroom they have given us. I hope we shall have no occasion, however, to occupy it. Come, let us see!"