On the following morning, as it chanced, Eve had no relish for the foodthat was brought to her, for confinement in that narrow place had robbedher of her appetite. Also she had suffered much from grievous fear anddoubt, for whatever she might say to Acour, how could she be sure thathis story was not true? How could she be sure that her lover did not, infact, now lie dead at the headsman's hands? Such things often happenedwhen kings were wroth and would not listen. Or perhaps Acour himselfhad found and murdered him, or hired others to do the deed. She didnot know, and, imprisoned here without a friend, what means had she ofcoming at the truth? Oh! if only she could escape! If only she couldspeak with Sir Andrew for one brief minute, she, poor fool, who hadwalked into this trap of her own will.
She sent away the food and bade the woman Mell bring her milk, for thatwould be easy to swallow and give her sustenance. After some hours itcame, Mell explaining that she had been obliged to send for it to thefarmsteading, as none drank milk in the manor-house. Being thirsty, Evetook the pitcher and drained it to the last drop, then threw it down,saying that the vessel was foul and made the milk taste ill.
The woman did not answer, only smiled a little as she left the chamber,and Eve wondered why she smiled.
A while later she grew very sleepy, and, as it seemed to her, hadstrange dreams in her sleep. She dreamed of her childhood, when she andHugh played together upon the Dunwich shore. She dreamed of her mother,and thought dimly that she was warning her of something. She heardvoices about her and thought that they were calling her to be free. Yes,and followed them readily enough, or so it seemed in her dream, followedthem out of that hateful prison, for the bolts clanged behind her, downstairs and into the courtyard, where the sun's light almost blinded herand the fresh air struck her hot brow like ice. Then there were morevoices, and people moving to and fro and the drone of a priest prayingand a touch upon her hand from which she shrank. And oh! she wished thatdream were done, for it was long, long. It wearied her, and grasped herheart with a cold clutch of fear.
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