"Morning came, and unfortunately for me, I was the first to awaken.
Hastily dressing, I thought I would explore the scene of the late
festivity; and so I descended the stairs and entered the silent,
deserted drawing-room. In a few moments, Rebecca herself entered the
drawing-room, but partially dressed and wrapped in a crimson shawl.
She had come to remove the pipe.

"'Why are you up so early, Leah?' she said confusedly, seeing that I
was also in the room. And then, as she passed hurriedly around the
table where the pipe lay, the treacherous fringe of her shawl caught
in the delicate antlers of the elk's head and dragged it from its
place upon the table. It fell to the floor with a crash, and we both
looked down in dismay on the wreck at her feet. A footstep sounded
in the hall at that moment, and fearing it was my father, Rebecca
said boldly, and with gleaming eye:

"'What did you do that for, you wretched child?'

"'Do what?' I whispered, overawed.

"'Deny it, if you dare, and I'll break every bone in your body, you
lynx! What will your father say?' she continued. 'Pick up every
piece, and go and show it to him. Say you broke it, and ask his
forgiveness! Do you hear me?'

"I hesitated and trembled.

"'Dare you disobey me?' she angrily exclaimed, with menacing
gesture.