If it was not fear, it was something very like it, but with a mixture of wondrous pleasure: there was the door! The curtains hid Aggie, and for a moment he felt as if he were miles alone, and must rush back to the refuge of her presence.

But he would not yield to the folly--compelled himself to walk to the door.
Whether he was more disappointed or relieved, he could not, the first instant, have told: instead of a door, scarcely leaning against the wall, was an old dark screen, in stamped leather, from which the gilding was long faded.

Disappointment and not relief was then his only sense.
"Aggie," he called, still on the farther side of the bed--he called gently, but trembled at the sound of his own voice--"did ye ever hear--did Grannie mak mention o' a door 'at the auld captain gaed oot at ?" "Whisht, whisht!" cried Aggie, in a loud hissing whisper, which seemed to pierce the marrow of Cosmo's bones, "I rede ye say nae thing aboot that i' this chaumer.

Bide till we're oot o' 't: I hae near dune.

Syne we'll steek the door, an' lat the fire work.