Halfpenny. You will make her comfortable, and don't let her be
disturbed in the morning till she has had her sleep out.'

Dolly found herself undressed, without many words, till it came to--
'Your prayers, Miss Dora. I am sure you've need not to miss them.'

She did not like to be told, besides, poor child, prayers were not much
more than a form to her. She did not contest the point, but knelt down
and muttered something, then laid her weary head on the pillow, was
tucked up by Mrs. Halfpenny, and left in the dark. It was a dreary
half sleep into which she fell. The noise of the train seemed to be
still in her ears, and at the same time she was always being driven up
--up--up endless stairs, by tall, cruel aunts; or they were shutting her
up to do all their children's work, and keeping away father's letters
from her. Then she awoke and told herself it was a dream, but she
missed the noises of the street, and the patch of light on the wall
from the gas lamps, and recollected that father was gone, and she was
really in the power of one of these cruel aunts; and she felt like
screaming, only then she might have been heard; and a great horrid
clock went on making a noise like a church bell, and striking so many
odd quarters that there was no guessing when morning was coming. And
after all, why should she wish it to come? Oh, if she could but sleep
the three years while father was away!

At last, however, she fell into a really calm sleep, and when she
awoke, the room was full of light, but her watch had stopped; she had
been too much tired to remember to wind it; and she lay a little while
hearing sounds that made it clear that the world was astir, and she
could see that preparations had been made for her getting up.