It serves him briefly; but if he be ready for the vital instant, it may serve him well.
"Yes, mistress," said Thomas, "I go to him at once." John left the room and closed the door as he passed out.

Then it was that Dorothy's laugh sounded like the chilling tones of a knell.

It was the laugh of one almost distraught.

She came to Madge and me laughing, but the laugh quickly changed to convulsive sobs.

The strain of the brief moment during which her father had been in Lady Crawford's room had been too great for even her strong nerves to bear.