The coming of the cloud was too quick for me to see much, for shadow shut down on light almost immediately, but it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it.

What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell.
I did not wait to catch another glance, but flew down the steep steps to the pier and along by the fish-market to the bridge, which was the only way to reach the East Cliff.

The town seemed as dead, for not a soul did I see.

I rejoiced that it was so, for I wanted no witness of poor Lucy's condition.

The time and distance seemed endless, and my knees trembled and my breath came laboured as I toiled up the endless steps to the abbey.