Free Within That Room! by John Russell Fearn Page A

have an inspiration in time.”
    Satisfied—partly at least—he blew out the lamp flame and climbed back into bed. It said much for his power of detachment that he was soon asleep.

CHAPTER TEN
    MERCILESS EROSION
    If there were any disturbances in the night neither Dick nor Vera knew anything about them. They were both young, amazingly resilient, and in a way pretty pleased with themselves—so Morpheus found them willing slaves.
    When they met in the morning at breakfast in the gaunt dining hall, it was obvious how completely their good spirits had been restored by sleep.
    â€œAll I need,” Dick said, as he sat down at the table, “is a good five-barred gate to jump over. And you, dearest?”
    Vera, with memories of the goodnight kiss, smiled sweetly.
    â€œNever better, darling!”
    â€œThat’s fine,” he approved. “Now we’re getting really chummy!”
    Mrs. Falworth, as calm and unsmiling as usual, glanced at them in turn and then proceeded to her normal routine of serving the breakfast. For a while neither Dick nor Vera spoke as they satisfied their hunger; then Mrs. Falworth broke the silence.
    â€œWith all respect, miss, might I inquire if you have made up your mind about disposing of this place? As I remember, you said last night that you would give it your consideration when you felt less fatigued.”
    â€œI have,” Vera answered. “Only I don’t know the answer yet. It’s a weighty matter—very weighty.”
    It looked as though Mrs. Falworth was having a mighty hard fight to keep her patience.
    â€œFrankly, I cannot see that the issue is so profound. You either stay and risk final obliteration by the spirit of evil or you sell and permit all of us to have our liberty.”
    Vera set down her knife and fork and looked at the housekeeper with sharp blue eyes.
    â€œLook here, Mrs. Falworth. I feel inclined to resent your implication that I am responsible for you and your husband having to stay here! You make it sound as though it is my fault that you both have to be exposed to the dangers of this evil influence, just because I have not made up my mind to sell. If you wish to leave, you are at perfect liberty to do so.”
    â€œI regret, madam, that I phrased my remarks improperly. I know that you are not in any way responsible for my husband and myself staying on here—but as I said before, when I leave I wish to do so with a clear conscience. I could not give up here with the knowledge that I had left you and your—er—fiancé exposed to other-world dangers.”
    â€œWe’ll take that chance if you want to quit,” Dick remarked.
    Mrs. Falworth shook her head. “I am sorry. You see, I know this house. I do not want it on my conscience that by withdrawing from it I also abandoned my protection, thereby condemning you both to insanity, or something worse. It is only my own power that holds this awful influence in check, and I do not mean that statement to sound egotistical. It is because I understand it all and can combat the evil.... But there are limits to human endurance. I beg of you, miss—sell! Before we are all overwhelmed!”
    There was a silence. Mrs. Falworth was now standing very straight, gazing upwards with her intense dark eyes, her white hands clenching and unclenching emotionally.
    â€œMmm—very dramatic,” Dick said.
    â€œWill you never learn?” the woman blazed at him suddenly; then she immediately remembered herself and inclined her head towards Vera. “Forgive me. I am not quite myself this morning. If you will excuse me, I will retire for a moment and compose my emotions.”
    Vera nodded somewhat blankly and watched as the tall, somber figure went from the room. Then she raised an eyebrow at Dick as he munched cheerfully.
    â€œI’ll bet she’d be a hit as Jane Eyre,” he said. “Right down to the twiddly bits.”
    â€œI never can