But none moved nor spake.
And the fear increased in her amidst that hush, and weighed so heavy
on her heart, that at last she might endure it no longer, but fell
swooning to the floor.
When she came to herself; and the swoon-dreams had left her, she saw
by the changing of the sun through the hall-windows, that she had
lain there long, more nearly two hours than one; and at first she
covered her face with her hands as she crouched there, that she might
not see the sight of the silent hall, for yet was it as hushed as
before. Then slowly she arose, and the sound of her raiment and her
stirring feet was loud in her ears. But when she was upright on her
feet, she hardened her heart, and went forth into the hall, and no
less was her wonder than erst. For when she came close to those
ladies as they sat at table, and her raiment brushed the raiment of
the serving-women as she passed by, then saw she how no breath came
from any of these, and that they neither spake nor moved, because
they were dead.
At first, then, she thought to flee away at once, but again she had
mind of her errand, and so went up the hall, and so forth on to the
dais; and there again, close by the high table, she saw new tidings.
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