CHAPTER THE SECOND.
TO SOUTHAMPTON.
There was not a moment to be lost.

When the servant came downstairs again from her room in the attics, she would be sure to call for the tea-tray, in order to save herself another journey; how long she would be up-stairs was quite uncertain.

If she was gone to "clean" herself, as she called it, the process might be a very long one, and a good hour might be at my disposal; but I could not count upon that.

In the drawing-room below sat my jailer and enemy, who might take a whim into her head, and come up to see her prisoner at any instant.

It was necessary to be very quick, very decisive, and very silent.
I had been on the alert for such a chance ever since my imprisonment began.