94 THE FAIR COURIER.

 

every thing. That her person would be
searched, she had good reason to believe;
and, in all probability, every part of the
room would be searched also. To hesitate
long would be to make discovery sure.
Every moment she expected some one to
enter. While she stood irresolute, a thought
glanced through her mind, and acting upon
it instantly, she tore off a part of the de-
spatch, and thrusting it into her mouth,
chewed and swallowed it. Another and
another piece disappeared in the same way;
but, ere the whole was destroyed, the door
opened, and a woman entered. Turning
her back quickly, Emily crowded all that
remained of the paper in her mouth, and
covering her face tightly with her anda,
held them there, as if weeping, until the
last particle of the tell-tale despatch had
disappeared. Then turning to the woman
who had addressed her repeatedly, she said
in a calm voice—

“ By what authority am I detained and
shut up a prisoner in this room?”