7 By the Light of the HurricaneThe old woman screamed, a shrill stifled sound in her throat. They caught a fleeting impression of her face, still and horrified, as if carved out of red sandstone, her small black eyes dilated. She suddenly started for the door.
Mr Campion laid a hand upon her arm. He was unnaturally quiet in his movements, his face expressionless.
‘Wait, Alice,’ he said. ‘Giles and I will go first.’
‘Leave I go,’ said the old woman, wrenching her arm away. ‘Leave I go, I tell ’ee.’
Biddy came forward. ‘Stay here, Alice,’ she said gently. ‘Stay here. He said they were to go alone.’
Alice suffered herself to be led back into the room. Judge Lobbett stood between his two children, an inscrutable expression on his face. Isopel clung to him. Marlowe looked on gravely, ready
