y it for the child's perversion!

I doubt if our enemy had named Mr. Alexander three times before I
perceived which way his mind was aiming--all this train of thought and
memory passed in one pulsation through my own--and you may say I started
back as though an open hole had gaped across a pathway. Mr. Alexander:
there was the weak point, there was the Eve in our perishable paradise;
and the serpent was already hissing on the trail.

I promise you, I went the more heartily about the preparations; my last
scruple gone, the danger of delay written before me in huge characters.
From that moment forth I seem not to have sat down or breathed. Now I
would be at my post with the Master and his Indian; now in the garret
buckling a valise; now sending forth Macconochie by the side postern and
the wood-path to bear it to the trysting-place; and, again, snatching
some words of counsel with my lady. This was the _verso_ of our life in
Durrisdeer that day; but on the _recto_ all appeared quite settled, as
of a family at home in its paternal seat; and what perturbation may have
been observable, the Master would set down to the blow of his
unlooked-for coming, and the fear he was accustomed to inspire.

Supper went creditably off, cold salutations passed, and the company
trooped to their respective chambers. I attended the Master to the last.
We had put him next door to his Indian, in the north wing; because that
was the most distant and could be severed from the body of the house
with doors. I saw he was a kind friend or a good master (whichever it
was) to his Secundra Dass--seeing to his comfort; mending the fire with
his own hand, for the Indian complained of cold; inquiring as to the
rice on which the stranger made his diet; talking with him pleasantly in
the Hindustanee, while I stood by, my candle in my hand, and affected to
be overcome with slumber. At length the Master observed my signals of
distress. "I perceive," says he, "that you have all your ancient habits:
early to bed and early to rise. Yawn yourself away!"

Once in my own room, I made the customary motions of undressing, so that
I might time myself; and when the cycle was complete, set my tinder-box
ready, and blew out my taper. The matter of an hour afterward I made a
light again, put on my shoes of list that I had worn by my lord's
sick-bed, and set forth into the house to call the voyagers. All were
dressed and waiting--my lord, my lady, Miss Katharine, Mr. Alexa