I said to myself that he
could not be a wicked man, and that there was nothing to fear. But,
well-a-day, well-a-day, we know not what is before us, nor the evil that
we shall do before we die. Of a surety the man that I let in that night
had no thought of what he should do; yet he came in the end to do it,
and even to justify the doing of it.
I waited outside, as I have said, and the sound of voices came to me. I
thought to myself once, "Shall I go nearer and listen?" though it was
only for my mistress's sake that I considered it, being no eavesdropper.
But I did not go, and in so abstaining I was kept safe in the greatest
danger I have been in throughout my life. For if I had heard and known,
my fate might have been like hers; and should I have had the strength to
endure it?
In a little time the door opened and she came out alone. Her face was
paler even than ordinary, and she gave a start on seeing me stand there.
"Child," she said, "have you heard what passed between us on the other
side of that door?"
I answered that I had not heard a word; and then she beckoned me to
follow her into the kitchen.
When we were alone there I put down my candle on the deal table, and
stood still while she looked at me searchingly. I could see that there
was more in her manner than I understood.
"Child," she said, "I have had to trust you before when I have given
help to those in trouble, and you have not been wanting in discretion;
yet you are but a child to trust.
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