She
drew her skirt round her and walked up unaided, and followed by Sassi,
leaning on his stick with one hand and on Masin with the other.
The descent into the first chamber was less easy. Standing at the top,
Sabina looked down at Malipieri, who held his lantern to her feet. She
felt a delicious little uneasiness now, and listened to the ghostly
gurgle from the channel in the dark.
"What is that?" she asked, and her voice was a little awed by the
darkness and strangeness of the place.
"The 'lost water.' It runs through here."
She listened a moment longer, and began to descend, placing her feet
on the stones upon which Malipieri laid his hand, one after another,
to show her the way.
"Perhaps you might help me a little here," she said.
"If you will let me put your feet on the right step, it will be
easier," he answered.
"Yes. Do that, please. Show me the place first."
"There. Do you see? Now!"
He laid his hand firmly upon her small russet shoe, guided the little
foot to a safe position and steadied it there a moment.
"So," he said. "Now the next. There are only four or five more."
She was rather sorry that there were so few, for they seemed
delightfully safe, or just dangerous enough to be amusing; she was not
quite sure which. Women never analyze the present, unless it is
utterly dull.
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