Was it fancy? or did she really see the door first open a little,
then suddenly and softly close again?
Was it fancy? or did she really hear, at the same moment, a sound
behind her as of persons speaking in the conservatory?
She paused; and, looking back in that direction, listened
intently. The sound--if she had really heard it--was no longer
audible. She advanced toward the billiard-room to set her first
doubt at rest. She stretched out her hand to open the door, when
the voices (recognizable now as the voices of two men) caught her
ear once more.
This time she was able to distinguish the words that were spoken.
"Any further orders, sir?" inquired one of the men.
"Nothing more," replied the other.
Mercy started, and faintly flushed, as the second voice answered
the first. She stood irresolute close to the billiard-room,
hesitating what to do next.
After an interval the second voice made itself heard again,
advancing nearer to the dining-room: "Are you there, aunt?" it
asked cautiously. There was a moment's pause. Then the voice
spoke for the third time, sounding louder and nearer. "Are you
there?" it reiterated; "I have something to tell you.
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