English fiction -- 19th century; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Mystery fiction; Smugglers -- Fiction
Sister Margaret was temporarily indisposed; the result, Mr. Parker
thought, of a chill; and was confined to her bed. Taking a small
saucepan from its place, Sister Ann was reaching in the cupboard for
the tin of arrowroot, when a most tremendous ringing came to the
house bell. Whether it was one prolonged ring, or a succession of
rings, they could not tell; but it never ceased, and it alarmed the
Sisters. Cries and shrieks were also heard outside.
"It must be fire!" ejaculated the startled women.
All three rushed out of the kitchen and made for the front door,
Sister Phoeby kicking off her pattens that she might ran the quicker.
Old Sister Mildred, who had become so much better of late that she was
about again just as the other ladies were, appeared at the door of the
parlour with Sister Mary Ursula.
"Make haste, children! make haste!" she cried, as the three were
fumbling at the entrance-door, and impeding one another; for "The more
haste the less speed," as says the old proverb, held good here.
When it was flung open, some prostrate body in a shawl and bonnet was
discovered there, uttering cries and dismal moans. The Sisters
hastened to raise her, and found it was Miss Hallet. Miss Hallet
covered from head to foot in dust. She staggered in, clinging to them
all. Jane followed more sedately, but looking white and scared.
"Dear, dear!" exclaimed compassionating Sister Mildred, whose
deafness was somewhat better with her improved health, so that she did
not always need her new ear-trumpet. "Have you had an accident, Miss
Hallet? Pray come into the parlour."
Seated there in Sister Mildred's own easy-chair, her shawl unfastened
by sympathising hands, her bonnet removed, Miss. Hallet's gasps
culminated in a fit of hysterics. Between her cries she managed to
disclose the truth--the Grey Monk had appeared to her.
Some of the Sisters gave a shiver and drew closer together. The Grey
Monk again!
"But all the dust that is upon you?" asked Sister Phoeby. "Did the
Grey Friar do that?"
In one sense yes, for he had caused it, was the substance of Miss
Hallet's answer. The terror he gave her was so great that she had
fallen flat down in the dusty road.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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