Her
brain was in a whirl when she thought of being brought face to face with
the woman who had been before her, and every cruel and ruthless instinct
of her nature rose and took shape in plans for her rival's destruction.
She opened her door, careless of the draught of frozen air that rushed
in from the corridor. She wished to hear the lady's footstep when
she left her room to go to the church, and she sat down and remained
motionless, fearing lest her own footfall should prevent the sound from
reaching her. The heavy-toned bells began to ring, far off in the night.
At last it came, the opening of a door, the slight noise made by a light
tread upon the pavement. She rose quietly and went out, following in the
same direction. She could see nothing but a dark shadow moving before
her towards the opposite end of the passage, farther and farther
from the hanging lamp. Unorna could hear her own heart beating as she
followed, first to the right, then to the left. There was another light
at this point. The lady had noticed that some one was coming behind her
and turned her head to look back. The delicate, dark profile stood
out clearly. Unorna held her breath, walking swiftly forward. But in a
moment the lady went on, and entered the chapel-like room from which a
great balconied window looked down into the church above the choir. As
Unorna went in, she saw her kneeling upon one of the stools, her hands
folded, her head inclined, her eyes closed, a black veil loosely thrown
over her still blacker hair and falling down upon her shoulder without
hiding her face.
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