Henry led Agnes to the figure on the left, as they stood facing the empty
fire-place. 'Shall I try the experiment,' he asked, 'or will you?'
She abruptly drew her arm away from him, and turned back to the door.
'I can't even look at it,' she said. 'That merciless marble face
frightens me!'
Henry put his hand on the forehead of the figure. 'What is there
to alarm you, my dear, in this conventionally classical face?'
he asked jestingly. Before he could press the head inwards,
Agnes hurriedly opened the door. 'Wait till I am out of the room!'
she cried. 'The bare idea of what you may find there horrifies me!'
She looked back into the room as she crossed the threshold.
'I won't leave you altogether,' she said, 'I will wait outside.'
She closed the door. Left by himself, Henry lifted his hand once
more to the marble forehead of the figure.
For the second time, he was checked on the point of setting
the machinery of the hiding-place in motion. On this occasion,
the interruption came from an outbreak of friendly voices
in the corridor. A woman's voice exclaimed, 'Dearest Agnes,
how glad I am to see you again!' A man's voice followed,
offering to introduce some friend to 'Miss Lockwood.
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