I mean to follow the hand: will
you come with me and take care of me?"
"Go in, ma'am," he said; "wrap up warm, and put on thick shoes, and come
quietly down to this door. I'll just slip in and quiet the servants, and
meet you."
"And bring a lantern," I said; "this light does not light you."
In five minutes we were there again; and the hand was vivid as ever.
"Do you see it now?" whispered the butler, anxiously.
"Yes," I said; "it is moving."
"Go on," he said; "I will keep close behind you."
It was pitch dark, and, except for the gleaming hand, and the erratic
circles of light cast by the lantern, we could see nothing. The hand
gradually moved faster, increasing to a good walking pace, passing over
the garden-gate and leading us on till I completely lost knowledge of
our position; but still we went steadily forward. At last we got into a
road, and went along by a wall; and, after a few steps, the hand, which
was before me, moved sharply aside.
"Robert," I said, "it has gone over a gate--we must go too! Where are
we?"
He answered, in a tone of the deepest horror--
"Miss Dorothy! for the Lord's sake, think what you are doing, and let us
turn back while we can! You've had sore affliction; but it's an awful
thing to bring an innocent man to trouble.
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