made him cry aloud. And there came Voices
too--Voices that had slept so long in the inner kingdoms of silence that
they failed to rouse in him the very slightest emotion of
recognition....

Worn out at length with the surging of these strange hosts through him,
he got up and went to the open window again. The night was very dark and
warm, but the stars had disappeared, and there was the hush and the
faint odour of coming rain in the air. He smelt leaves and the earth and
the moist things of the ground, the wonderful perfume of the life of the
soil.

The wind had dropped; all was silent as the grave; the leaves of the
elm trees were motionless; no bird or insect raised its voice;
everything slept; he alone was watchful, awake. Leaning over the
window-sill, his thoughts searched for the governess, and he wondered
anew where she was spending the dark hours. She, too, he felt sure, was
wakeful somewhere, watching with him, plotting their escape together,
and always mindful of his safety....

His reverie was suddenly interrupted by the flight of an immense
night-bird dropping through the air just above his head. He sprang back
into the room with a startled cry, as it rushed past in the darkness
with a great swishing of wings. The size of the creature filled him with
awe; it was so close that the wind it made lifted the hair on his
forehead, and he could almost feel the feathers brush his cheeks. He
strained his eyes to try and follow it, but the shadows were too deep
and he could see nothing; only in the distance, growing every moment
fainter, he could hear the noise of big wings threshing the air. He
waited a little, wondering if another bird would follow it, or if it
would presently return to its perch on the roof; and then his thoughts
passed on to uncertain memories of other big birds--hawks, owls,
eagles--that he had seen somewhere in places now beyond the reach of
distinct recollections....

Soon the light began to dawn in the east, and he made out the shape of
the elm trees and the dreadful prison wall; and with the first real
touch of morning light he heard a familiar creaking sound in the room
behind him, and saw the black hood of the governess rising through the
trap-door in the floor.

"But you've left me alone all night!" he said at once reproachfully, as
she kissed him.

"On purpose," she answered. "He'd get suspicious if I stayed too much
with you. It's different in the daytime, when he can't see prope