de it plain to me that he had something on
his mind: and that something--oh, how I did abominate that MR.
TRUEPENNY. No; I thought to myself--as I lay awake, waiting for FRED to
go off, that is, if he was going to sleep at all--no: MR. TRUEPENNY:
you never enter my house. You never cross the threshold of the Flitch. A
pretty friend indeed to take a man out--and that man newly married--to
be shot like a sheep; and to leave a lonely, unprotected,
broken-hearted--

The bitter thought was too much for me, I wept in good earnest; but
cried so quietly--I was almost choked--for fear FRED, for he was _not_
asleep, should hear me! Oh, and again and again I thought, if ever we
_do_ get home! What a home I'll make it! And still--and I was sure of
it--still he was awake.

And then I thought, suppose he should not go to sleep at all. Suppose he
should get up and--well, no matter; I was resolved: I'd get up with him.
I'd go with him. I'd cling to him. I'd never leave him. I'd call
assistance, constables--

And now it was broad daylight, and--yes, surely, he _was_ asleep? I
listened; and I couldn't be mistaken: no, I was sure he slept. And then
I rose gently--very, very gently to look, and--yes,--he was in a deep
sleep. His face--that beautiful face--was white, white and hushed and
still as marble! Oh, how much I seemed to learn--how much more to live
in that minute--looking, looking--and he--all the time as if there was
some dreadful story under that deep stillness!

I rose quietly as possible; hardly breathing. But still he slept--I was
sure of that. I took the key from under my pillow. Oh, that dreadful
lock! It was old and rusty, and began to creak and squeak; and I holding
my breath, and almost standing upon my tiptoes trying to turn the key.
At last, with a grating noise the lock turned. I passed--he was still
asleep. I opened the door; and was about to pass to JOSEPHINE'S, when
something whispered me, lock the door again. I did so; for I couldn't be
too sure. So I locked the door--that casket-door, as I thought--for FRED
lay sleeping.

Fortunately, JOSEPHINE'S door was unlocked; though--I had not time to
speak of it at the moment, not but that the thought struck me at the
very instant--though how a young woman could go to bed without
double-locking her door I couldn't understand, although on second
thoughts perhaps she had left it open for me--and JOSEPHINE fast asleep.
Fast! in fact, as I said, anybody--that is, any robb