input: CHAPTER VIII

THE MAIL GUARD

Somewhere about two in the morning a squall had burst upon the castle, a clap of screaming wind that made the towers rock, and a copious drift of rain that streamed from the windows. The wind soon blew itself out, but the day broke cloudy and dripping, and when the little party assembled at breakfast their humours appeared to have changed with the change of weather. Nance had been brooding on the scene at the river-side, applying it in various ways to her particular aspirations, and the result, which was hardly to her mind, had taken the colour out of her cheeks. Mr. Archer, too, was somewhat absent, his thoughts were of a mingled strain; and even upon his usually impassive countenance there were betrayed successive depths of depression and starts of exultation, which the girl translated in terms of her own hopes and fears. But Jonathan was the most altered: he was strangely silent, hardly passing a word, and watched Mr. Archer with an eager and furtive eye. It seemed as if the idea that had so long hovered before him had now taken a more solid shape, and, while it still attracted, somewhat alarmed his imagination.

At this rate, conversation languished into a silence which was only broken by the gentle and ghostly noises of the rain on the stone roof and about all that field of ruins; and they were all relieved when the note of a man whistling and the sound of approaching footsteps in the grassy court announced a visitor. It was the ostler from the "Green Dragon" bringing a letter for Mr. Archer. Nance saw her hero's face contract and then relax again at sight of it; and she thought that she knew why, for the sprawling, gross black characters of the address were easily distinguishable from the fine writing on the former letter that had so much disturbed him. He opened it and began to read; while the ostler sat down to table with a pot of ale, and proceeded to make himself agreeable after his fashion. 1. was it raining?
2. what time did it start?
3. what did the ostler bring to the table?
4. were the breakfast goers happy about the weather?
5. who was brooding?
6. was Jonathan being loud?
7. who was the most altered?
8. who was he watching?
9. had the wind died down?
10. how was Mr. Archer's thoughts?
11. who brought the letter?
12. who was he bringing it to?
13. did he open it?
14. who was Nance's hero? Return numbered answers in your output.

output: 1. yes
2. about two in the morning
3. a pot of ale
4. no
5. Nance
6. no
7. Jonathan
8. Mr. Archer
9. yes
10. his thoughts were of a mingled strain
11. the ostler from the "Green Dragon"
12. Mr. Archer
13. yes
14. Mr. Archer

input: CHAPTER XV. SAFE-CONDUCT

Across the body of that convulsively sobbing woman, the mother of one and the mistress of the other, the eyes of those mortal enemies met, invested with a startled, appalled interest that admitted of no words.

Beyond the table, as if turned to stone by this culminating horror of revelation, stood Aline.

M. de La Tour d'Azyr was the first to stir. Into his bewildered mind came the memory of something that Mme. de Plougastel had said of a letter that was on the table. He came forward, unhindered. The announcement made, Mme. de Plougastel no longer feared the sequel, and so she let him go. He walked unsteadily past this new-found son of his, and took up the sheet that lay beside the candlebranch. A long moment he stood reading it, none heeding him. Aline's eyes were all on Andre-Louis, full of wonder and commiseration, whilst Andre-Louis was staring down, in stupefied fascination, at his mother.

M. de La Tour d'Azyr read the letter slowly through. Then very quietly he replaced it. His next concern, being the product of an artificial age sternly schooled in the suppression of emotion, was to compose himself. Then he stepped back to Mme. de Plougastel's side and stooped to raise her.

"Therese," he said.

Obeying, by instinct, the implied command, she made an effort to rise and to control herself in her turn. The Marquis half conducted, half carried her to the armchair by the table.

Andre-Louis looked on. Still numbed and bewildered, he made no attempt to assist. He saw as in a dream the Marquis bending over Mme. de Plougastel. As in a dream he heard him ask: 1. Who was crying?
2. Who was stunned by the news?
3. Was she still?
4. Who moved first?
5. Where did he remember a letter was sitting?
6. Who had told him this?
7. How did he walk?
8. Was he steady on his feet?
9. Where was the letter on the table?
10. Who was Aline looking at?
11. Where was he looking?
12. With what expression?
13. Who helped Therese walk?
14. To where?
15. Did Andre-Louis help?
16. Why not?
17. Who read the letter?
18. Quickly?
19. He he retain his composure? Return numbered answers in your output.

output:
1. a woman
2. Andre-Louis
3. yes
4. M. de La Tour d'Azyr
5. on the table
6. Mme. de Plougastel
7. unhindered.
8. no
9. beside the candlebranch.
10. Andre-Louis
11. his mother.
12. in stupefied fascination
13. M. de La Tour d'Azyr
14. to the armchair
15. no
16. he was still numbed and bewildered
17. M. de La Tour d'Azyr
18. no
19. yes