,and
dropped
my
hands
,
and
went
on
.
"
You
will
think
me
the
weakest
in
mind
and
most
wicked
,
but
I
am
most
unhappy
.
"
I
started
in
turn
,
and
how
I
longed
to
console
him
.
What
use
is
pride
if
it
cannot
even
command
one
's
eyes
?
"
It
is
to
me
a
disgrace
to
come
to
you
with
my
troubles
.
But
I
do
it
from
no
unmanly
temper
.
I
do
it
alone
for
the
sake
of
my
precious
sister
Isola
.
I
have
no
longer
any
one
whom
I
dare
to
love
but
her
,
and
now
I
am
compelled
to
abandon
her
at
the
last
.
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
be
long
away
?
"
This
I
managed
to
ask
pretty
well
,
though
it
was
sore
work
.
"
I
shall
not
be
away
from
London
,
but
I
shall
be
departed
from
Isola
.
The
house
where
she
lives
I
am
no
more
to
visit
.
A
long
time
I
have
gone
there
only
a
little
,
and
alone
to
see
her
.
She
is
ordered
now
to
come
no
more
to
me
.
This
day
I
spoke
very
violently
.
But
I
will
not
detain
you
with
that
.
I
will
confess
I
did
wrong
;
but
I
was
richly
provoked
.
My
object
in
burdening
you
is
double
:
—
First
to
implore
you
,
if
I
may
without
using
liberty
,
to
endure
well
with
the
Professor
,
lest
she
should
be
interdicted
from
coming
to
visit
you
,
and
then
she
would
have
no
one
remaining
to
love
her
.
Second
to
ask
,
a
thing
that
I
hesitate
because
I
cannot
narrate
to
you
all
things
,
whether
you
would
indulge
me
,
if
there
is
no
wrong
,
to
come
now
and
then
to
see
my
own
and
my
only
sister
.
"
"
Of
course
you
do
not
mean
without
her
father
's
knowledge
.
"
"
I
would
never
insult
you
,
Miss
Valence
,
by
asking
a
thing
like
that
.
I
desire
nothing
of
what
you
call
clandestine
.
You
are
so
free
and
open
,
you
would
never
have
to
do
with
any
sort
of
concealment
.
Neither
am
I
in
the
habit
to
do
anything
like
that
.
It
has
only
been
commanded
that
I
may
not
go
there
,
or
invite
her
to
come
to
my
house
.
The
Professor
has
great
power
in
the
present
,
but
he
does
not
pretend
to
interdict
me
from
my
sister
.
"
His
eyes
flashed
,
as
he
spoke
,
with
an
expression
quite
unfilial
.
Remembering
how
differently
I
had
loved
my
own
dear
father
,
I
felt
disappointed
and
grieved
,
but
had
no
right
to
show
it
.
"
Only
one
more
thing
I
will
entreat
of
you
,
Miss
Valence
;
poor
Isola
has
never
learned
what
means
any
grief
.
If
she
is
vexed
by
this
,
I
pray
you
to
sustain
and
comfort
her
;
for
I
shall
never
make
a
wrong
advantage
of
your
most
kind
permission
,
so
as
to
see
her
very
often
.
"
He
raised
my
hand
to
his
lips
in
gratitude
for
what
he
called
a
kindness
beyond
all
value
to
him
,
and
his
voice
was
trembling
as
he
turned
away
.
But
I
had
done
no
kindness
,
I
had
given
no
permission
;
for
I
was
not
calm
enough
to
distinguish
right
from
wrong
.
Strange
indeed
it
seemed
to
me
that
I
,
for
the
most
part
so
decided
,
could
not
now
determine
,
but
was
all
perplexity
.
My
great
iceberg
self-reliance
,
built
in
bleak
and
lonesome
years
,
was
now
adrift
and
melting
in
the
bright
sun
of
friendship
and
the
warm
sea-depths
of
love
.
CHAPTER
XV
.
Isola
happened
that
day
to
leave
me
before
the
usual
time
,
being
afraid
that
her
father
,
who
was
not
in
his
sweetest
mood
,
would
be
angry
with
her
.
She
was
grieved
of
course
at
the
new
dissension
,
and
thought
me
(
her
ideas
were
of
loose
texture
)
somewhat
to
blame
somehow
.
Nevertheless
she
soon
forgave
me
the
crime
I
had
not
committed
.
That
day
I
could
paint
no
more
,
but
sat
me
down
to
meditate
.
Suddenly
a
loud
ring
and
a
louder
knock
echoed
through
the
house
.
Quickly
Mrs.
Shelfer
's
little
feet
came
pattering
up
the
stairs
,
and
her
grey
eyes
actually
seemed
to
come
in
first
at
the
door
.
On
the
crown
of
her
head
her
black
cap
hung
,
like
the
top
of
a
chaise
doubled
back
.
"
Oh
my
good
friend
,
look
here
!
I
was
never
so
frightened
in
all
my
life
.
"
She
held
as
far
from
her
as
she
could
reach
a
closed
envelope
,
addressed
"
Miss
Clara
Vaughan
.
"
I
tore
it
open
and
read
—
"
Mr
.
Vaughan
is
dying
,
come
instantly
.
Sent
by
Mrs.
Fletcher
.
"
"
Telegraph
,
my
good
soul
,
"
cried
Mrs.
Shelfer
,
"
Electric
Telegraph
Company
,
all
screams
the
wires
red
hot
,
and
you
must
sign
the
message
he
says
.
And
is
there
any
answer
?
And
they
give
him
eighteen
pence
.
Oh
dear
,
I
shall
never
get
over
it
.
Never
had
such
a
turn
since
my
brother
John
went
,
and
they
tucked
him
up
so
bootiful
,
and
I
said
to
the
clerk
at
Barbican
—
"
"
Out
of
my
way
if
you
please
.
Let
me
sign
the
form
,
and
leave
me
alone
a
minute
.
There
is
no
answer
.
"
Should
I
go
or
not
?
Bitterly
as
I
disliked
him
,
could
I
let
him
die
among
hirelings
and
strangers
—
I
,
his
brother
's
daughter
!
A
year
ago
I
would
have
done
so
and
thought
it
the
judgment
of
God
.
Now
I
remembered
my
dear
mother
's
death
,
and
doubted
about
going
only
because
I
knew
not
how
he
would
take
it
.
My
hesitation
was
very
brief
.
A
cab
was
ordered
,
Giudice
entrusted
to
Mrs.
Shelfer
's
care
,
a
short
note
left
for
Isola
,
a
few
things
put
together
anyhow
,
and
I
was
ready
to
start
.
Even
in
this
hurry
a
selfish
terror
smote
me
,
and
I
cautioned
Mrs.
Shelfer
strictly
to
conceal
both
name
and
destination
.
She
had
only
to
say
that
some
relative
was
suddenly
taken
ill
,
somewhere
down
in
the
country
;
the
country
being
to
her
mind
a
desert
marked
with
milestones
,
my
description
did
not
seem
unreasonably
vague
.
As
I
stood
in
the
passage
waiting
for
the
cab
,
the
poor
dog
,
who
had
been
quite
flurried
,
and
scented
indefinite
evil
,
commenced
,
prolonged
,
and
would
not
conclude
a
howl
of
passing
sadness
.
"
Oh
,
my
good
friend
,
"
cried
Mrs.
Shelfer
,
"
let
me
stop
the
cab
.
All
waste
of
money
to
go
.
The
good
gentleman
,
whoever
he
is
,
is
as
dead
as
a
crabshell
now
.
There
was
a
terrier
with
a
split
ear
,
next
door
but
one
,
when
my
poor
brother
John
was
ill
;
his
name
was
Jack
,
I
think
,
no
,
Tom
;
bless
me
,
no
,
what
am
I
thinking
of
,
Bob
—
Charley
knows
,
I
dare
say
—
"
"
Well
,
send
me
his
name
by
telegraph
.
Here
's
the
cab
,
Mrs.
Shelfer
.
"
Heavy
thumps
of
weary
wambling
feet
,
grating
of
wheels
,
a
needless
"
whoa
,
"
and
we
open
the
door
.
Giudice
bolts
first
into
the
cab
,
and
sitting
upright
with
his
tongue
out
and
a
sprightly
pant
,
occupies
the
whole
.
It
takes
the
united
strength
,
address
,
and
authority
of
cabman
,
landlady
,
and
myself
to
get
him
out
again
.
Then
he
coils
his
tail
to
his
stomach
,
droops
his
ears
and
eyes
,
and
receiving
two
hot
tears
and
a
kiss
is
sidled
and
deluded
into
the
narrow
passage
.
The
last
thing
I
hear
is
a
howl
that
winds
far
round
the
corner
and
beyond
the
square
.
In
an
hour
and
a
half
from
the
delivery
of
the
message
,
I
was
in
a
second-class
carriage
,
and
we
shrieked
away
from
Paddington
.
The
hurry
and
rush
overcame
me
for
a
while
.
Soon
the
April
evening
was
spread
with
shadowy
gray
,
and
we
were
rushing
past
the
wooded
waves
of
Pangbourne
,
and
casting
silver
rings
of
steam
on
the
many-fingered
spruce
,
before
I
could
collect
and
feel
my
thoughts
again
.
As
we
glided
through
plantations
and
between
the
winding
hills
,
with
the
partridge
beginning
his
twilight
call
,
the
pheasants
come
out
of
the
coppice
to
feed
,
and
the
late
rook
plying
his
dusky
wings
,
at
length
the
dust
and
city
turmoil
lagged
round
the
corner
miles
away
,
and
we
sparkled
in
the
dewy
freshness
of
the
silent
moon
.
Though
all
alone
in
the
carriage
,
I
vainly
tried
for
prudence
'
sake
to
creep
into
the
cloak
of
sleep
.
Every
vein
and
every
pore
was
full
of
gushing
thrilling
electric
life
.
The
country
,
the
country
!
the
heavenly
country
's
glory
!
how
had
I
breathed
and
groped
in
the
city
grave
so
long
?
For
every
thought
that
dribbled
there
and
guttered
in
my
brain
,
a
hundred
thousand
now
flow
through
me
,
not
of
brain
,
but
soul
.
Thoughts
I
cannot
call
them
,
for
there
is
no
volition
,
neither
have
they
sequence
,
impress
,
or
seen
image
:
only
a
broad
stream
gliding
,
whence
and
whither
I
know
not
.
How
can
I
describe
to
others
what
I
cannot
tell
myself
?
"
Glost
'
!
Glost
'
!
change
here
for
Chelt
'm
!
"
etc.
broke
my
dreaming
suddenly
.
It
was
eleven
at
night
.
I
had
come
unwrapped
;
the
heavenly
country
and
nature
's
tide
forgot
to
keep
me
warm
.
Out
I
came
upon
the
platform
,
and
dreamily
began
to
seek
my
carpet-bag
,
for
I
had
no
heavy
luggage
.
The
moon
was
struggling
with
the
gas-lights
,
as
nature
in
me
fought
with
modern
life
.
"
Fly
,
Miss
,
fly
?
"
the
lonely
porter
asked
.
"
Yes
,
please
,
"
said
I
.
"
Where
for
,
Miss
?
"
"
Vaughan
St.
Mary
.
"
—
At
this
part
of
my
life
,
I
dropped
the
grand
"
Vaughan
Park
;
"
it
seemed
too
fine
for
me
,
and
I
was
well
content
to
be
of
Conrad
's
class
in
the
world
.
"
Oh
,
there
's
a
carriage
waiting
at
every
train
,
if
you
please
,
Miss.
"
And
with
tenfold
politeness
the
porter
showed
me
across
the
square
to
one
of
the
family
hearses
,
which
my
father
and
I
so
detested
.
It
so
happened
that
the
driver
and
footman
were
taking
some
light
refreshment
at
the
bar
of
a
neighbouring
edifice
,
while
the
horses
champed
their
bits
and
whinnied
.
The
men
came
out
against
their
will
,
and
stared
at
me
in
the
broad
moonshine
.
I
was
very
simply
,
plainly
,
and
cheaply
dressed
,
in
deep
mourning
still
for
my
darling
mother
;
but
no
servant
of
even
slight
experience
could
take
me
,
I
think
,
for
anything
but
a
lady
;
little
as
it
matters
.
The
men
were
half-drunk
,
very
surly
at
being
disturbed
,
and
inclined
to
form
a
low
estimate
of
my
dress
and
carpet-bag
.
"
You
mean
to
say
you
be
Miss
Vaughan
,
young
'
ooman
?
"
stuttered
the
reeling
coachman
,
with
his
hands
beneath
his
flaps
and
a
short
pipe
in
his
mouth
,
"
Now
I
tell
you
plainly
,
there
's
no
mistake
about
me
mind
,
I
ca
n't
noway
credit
it
.
It
do
n't
seem
likely
,
do
it
,
Bob
?
"
"
Likely
,
Jacob
?
Yes
,
like
enough
to
a
fool
;
but
nohow
creditable
to
the
like
of
us
.
Think
I
do
n't
know
now
?
Perhaps
the
young
'
ooman
will
answer
a
few
questions
,
Jacob
.
"
"
Ah
,
let
you
alone
;
let
you
alone
,
Bob
!
Specially
for
young
women
!
"
"
Porter
,
a
cab
at
once
,
if
you
please
;
or
a
fly
I
think
you
call
it
here
.
"
Oh
my
London
impudence
!
"
To
be
sure
,
Miss
;
the
best
in
Gloucester
directly
.
And
,
Miss
"
—
confidentially
,
"
if
I
was
in
your
shoes
,
I
'd
walk
them
chaps
about
their
business
to-morrow
.
How
they
have
been
carrying
on
here
,
to
be
sure
,
ever
since
the
six
o'clock
train
come
in
.
Why
,
in
the
time
of
the
old
Squire
Vaughan
—
"
"
Thank
you
,
the
fly
,
if
you
please
.
"
In
two
minutes
I
was
off
for
my
father
's
home
with
mighty
rattle
of
glass
,
and
many
jerking
noises
.
About
three
miles
from
Gloucester
we
were
passed
by
Jacob
and
Robert
,
who
were
sitting
side
by
side
and
driving
furiously
.
Convinced
at
last
by
the
porter
of
my
genuine
Vaughanship
,
they
had
set
off
full
speed
to
secure
first
audience
.
At
length
we
passed
the
lodge
,
where
the
gates
creaked
as
of
yore
,
and
dear
old
Whitehead
trembled
at
my
voice
,
and
so
along
the
great
avenue
where
I
had
studied
the
manners
and
ways
of
every
tree
,
and
where
Tulip
(
Nestor
among
deer
)
came
to
stare
at
us
with
his
grey
face
silver
in
the
moonlight
.
Poor
old
friend
,
he
knew
me
as
well
as
Giudice
did
,
but
I
could
not
stop
to
talk
to
him
.
Soon
as
the
bell
was
rung
the
broad
bolt
of
the
great
lock
,
which
I
was
once
so
proud
to
draw
,
flew
back
with
suspicious
promptitude
.
Albeit
he
had
changed
the
cloth
too
ochrously
described
by
Sally
,
for
a
suit
of
gentle
gray
,
and
had
drawn
out
his
face
to
a
most
unjovial
length
,
and
assumed
an
attitude
of
very
profound
respect
,
there
he
was
,
quite
unmistakeable
to
observant
eyes
,
the
Bacchanalian
Bob
.
"
And
please
,
Miss
"
—
after
he
had
fussed
awhile
—
"
what
train
did
you
please
to
come
by
?
I
understand
that
the
carriage
has
been
waiting
there
all
day
;
indeed
,
I
saw
it
come
back
from
the
pantry
window
myself
,
and
they
said
in
the
yard
the
last
train
was
in
afore
they
come
away
.
"
"
I
came
by
the
train
that
ought
to
be
there
at
half-past
ten
o'clock
.
"
"
Well
to
be
sure
!
That
must
be
the
very
train
as
Samuel
and
Humphry
said
they
waited
for
;
but
they
never
has
much
judgment
,
them
two
men
.
And
to
let
you
come
in
a
common
fly
,
Miss
!
"
"
I
saw
my
father
's
carriage
at
the
station
,
and
two
low-looking
servants
quite
tipsy
.
Their
names
,
however
,
were
not
Samuel
and
Humphry
,
but
Jacob
and
Robert
.
"
Strange
servants
now
came
thronging
round
,
with
an
obsequiousness
so
long
unknown
that
it
quite
disgusted
me
.
No
familiar
face
among
them
,
none
whom
I
could
bring
myself
to
ask
how
my
guardian
was
.
But
from
their
servility
to
me
I
concluded
that
his
time
was
short
.
"
Will
you
step
into
the
small
drawing-room
,
if
you
be
so
kind
,
Miss
?
There
is
a
good
fire
there
,
Miss
,
and
a
lady
waiting
for
you
.
"
"
Thank
you
.
Take
my
things
to
my
own
little
room
,
if
you
please
;
that
is
,
if
you
know
which
room
was
called
mine
.
"
"
Tilly
knows
,
Miss.
I
'll
run
and
fetch
Tilly
,
"
cried
the
officious
Bob
.
"
If
Matilda
Jenkins
is
still
here
,
let
her
answer
my
bell
as
long
as
I
remain
.
"
And
therewith
I
was
shown
into
the
room
where
the
lady
was
expecting
me
.
She
sat
with
her
back
to
the
door
,
and
I
could
only
see
that
she
was
richly
attired
in
full
evening
dress
.
There
was
a
powerful
smell
of
vinegar
in
the
room
,
and
two
pastiles
were
burning
.
As
I
walked
round
the
table
she
rose
with
some
reluctance
,
and
I
confronted
Mrs.
Daldy
.
CHAPTER
XVI
.
We
stood
for
a
moment
,
examining
each
other
.
She
was
fattening
nicely
on
what
she
called
"
holy
converse
and
spiritual
outpourings
at
Cheltenham
.
"
She
rushed
forward
with
great
enthusiasm
.
"
Why
,
Clara
,
darling
,
is
it
possible
?
Can
this
be
you
—
so
grown
,
and
improved
in
every
way
?
I
never
should
have
known
you
,
I
do
declare
!
Why
,
you
have
quite
a
brilliant
colour
,
and
your
eyes
,
and
your
hair
—
oh
dear
,
how
proud
your
sweet
mother
would
have
been
!
You
lovely
creature
,
I
must
have
a
kiss
!
What
,
not
even
your
pretty
hand
?
"
"
No
,
Mrs.
Daldy
;
never
more
my
hand
to
a
person
who
dared
to
insult
my
father
.
Me
you
might
have
insulted
a
thousand
times
,
and
I
would
have
forgiven
you
.
"
"
Come
now
,
let
bygones
be
bygones
,
that
's
a
dear
.
Oh
for
a
little
more
of
the
essence
of
Christianity
!
Let
us
stoop
to
the
hem
of
the
garment
of
the
meek
and
lowly
"
—
I
will
not
write
the
sacred
name
she
used
—
"
let
us
poor
grovelling
fellow-sinners
—
"
"
Do
n't
couple
me
with
yourself
,
I
beg
.
"
I
was
losing
my
temper
,
and
she
saw
her
advantage
.
"
Not
even
as
a
sinner
,
dear
?
I
thought
in
my
humility
that
we
all
were
sinners
.
"
"
So
we
are
;
but
not
all
hypocrites
.
"
She
kept
her
temper
wonderfully
,
in
all
except
her
eyes
.
"
Ah
,
you
impetuous
young
people
cannot
understand
the
chastened
lowly
heart
,
which
nothing
but
heavy
trials
and
the
grace
of
God
produce
.
You
know
,
Clara
,
you
never
could
.
"
This
last
truth
was
put
in
the
form
of
an
exclamation
,
and
in
such
a
different
tone
from
the
rest
,
moreover
it
was
so
true
,
that
I
could
hardly
help
smiling
.
"
Since
last
I
saw
you
,
I
have
been
tried
severely
and
chastised
most
heavily
.
I
bow
to
the
rod
.
All
works
together
for
our
spiritual
good
.
Until
that
blessed
day
,
when
all
the
sheaves
—
"
"
Mrs.
Daldy
,
I
as
well
have
seen
and
suffered
much
since
last
we
met
.
If
I
could
not
be
hoodwinked
then
by
this
sham
religion
,
is
it
likely
that
I
can
be
now
?
I
wonder
that
you
waste
your
time
so
.
"
The
truth
was
that
she
talked
in
this
strain
less
from
hope
than
habit
.
"
Then
if
I
must
treat
you
,
Miss
Vaughan
,
but
as
a
sister
worldling
,
let
us
at
least
combine
,
for
Providence
has
seen
fit
to
make
our
interests
the
same
.
"
"
How
so
?
"
I
was
doing
my
utmost
to
bear
with
her
awhile
.
"
First
,
before
I
tell
you
anything
,
have
you
as
keen
an
eye
for
the
perception
of
your
own
sweet
interest
as
for
the
discovery
of
what
you
kindly
call
'
hypocrisy
?
'
Ah
well
,
it
is
all
for
my
good
.
"
Her
rolling
compendious
eyes
glistened
at
the
thought
that
she
was
about
to
catch
me
here
.
I
pretended
to
be
caught
already
.
"
What
of
it
,
if
I
have
?
"
"
Then
I
will
tell
you
something
.
Sit
down
by
me
,
Clara
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
I
will
stand
.
"
"
Now
first
,
before
I
tell
you
anything
,
we
must
make
some
little
arrangement
for
our
mutual
benefit
,
and
then
resolve
upon
united
action
.
You
must
give
me
one
little
pledge
.
That
being
done
I
will
tell
you
everything
,
and
it
is
of
the
last
importance
to
you
.
"
"
Is
it
about
my
father
?
'
"
No.
It
has
nothing
to
do
with
him
;
it
is
about
your
uncle
,
who
now
lies
at
the
door
of
death
.
All
,
it
is
all
for
the
best
.
There
is
,
I
fear
,
no
chance
of
his
recovery
,
and
the
disposal
of
this
splendid
property
is
in
our
hands
,
if
we
know
how
to
play
our
cards
,
and
if
we
act
together
.
But
there
is
no
time
to
be
lost
.
Only
think
,
15
,
000
*
l
.
*
a
year
,
for
it
is
now
worth
every
farthing
of
that
,
besides
this
beautiful
place
.
Why
,
Clara
,
all
the
pleasures
of
life
will
be
at
our
feet
!
"
In
her
greedy
excitement
,
she
forgot
all
her
piety
;
but
I
liked
her
better
so
.
In
a
moment
she
saw
that
she
had
laid
her
wicked
heart
too
open
.
In
my
eyes
there
was
no
co-partner
flash
of
avarice
.
"
What
is
the
matter
with
my
poor
uncle
?
"
"
First
a
paralytic
stroke
;
since
that
low
gastric
fever
,
and
entire
prostration
.
Do
you
remember
when
you
came
to
your
dear
mother
's
funeral
?
"
"
Of
course
,
I
do
.
"
"
And
could
you
help
observing
how
altered
he
was
even
then
?
The
hour
he
heard
of
her
death
,
he
was
seized
with
violent
illness
,
yet
he
would
go
out
of
doors
alone
,
on
the
very
day
of
the
funeral
.
Something
then
excited
him
;
he
came
home
worse
,
and
in
the
night
was
visited
with
a
slight
paralytic
stroke
.
However
,
he
quite
recovered
the
use
of
his
limbs
for
a
time
,
though
never
his
former
spirits
—
if
we
can
call
them
spirits
.
For
several
months
he
went
about
as
usual
,
except
that
instead
of
a
horse
he
rode
a
quiet
pony
.
He
saw
to
the
property
,
received
the
Michaelmas
rents
,
and
invested
large
sums
of
money
both
in
land
and
the
funds
;
he
even
commenced
some
great
improvements
,
for
he
has
always
been
,
as
you
know
,
a
most
skilful
and
liberal
steward
and
manager
.
"
"
That
I
never
denied
.
There
could
not
be
a
better
one
.
"
"
But
suddenly
,
after
no
Christmas
festivities
(
for
he
would
hear
of
none
,
for
the
sake
of
your
dear
mother
)
,
he
was
found
on
the
morning
of
the
last
day
in
the
year
bolt
upright
in
his
study
chair
,
and
fully
dressed
,
with
two
pistols
,
loaded
and
cocked
,
on
the
table
,
no
sign
of
life
in
his
face
or
pulse
,
his
body
stiff
yet
limp
,
like
a
sand-bag
tightly
stuffed
.
The
man
who
found
him
described
it
better
than
I
can
.
'
Poor
master
,
whichever
way
I
put
him
,
there
he
stop
,
like
a
French
dog
doing
tricks
.
'
'
"
How
terrible
!
"
"
Yes
,
but
it
was
true
.
At
first
they
thought
it
was
catalepsy
only
;
but
when
that
passed
off
,
paralysis
remained
.
I
wanted
to
send
for
you
at
once
.
"
Here
she
met
,
for
she
could
not
help
it
,
but
did
not
answer
,
my
gaze
;
and
I
knew
it
was
a
lie
.
"
However
,
I
was
over-ruled
;
and
your
poor
uncle
lay
bed-ridden
,
but
in
no
actual
danger
,
until
this
horrid
low
fever
came
.
He
must
have
a
frame
of
iron
to
have
borne
up
as
he
has
.
The
doctor
says
this
fever
is
partly
from
the
prostration
of
the
nerves
.
"
"
Who
is
the
doctor
?
"
I
felt
almost
as
if
I
could
love
my
uncle
.
"
A
very
eminent
man
.
His
name
is
Churchyard
.
"
"
That
is
not
our
old
medical
man
.
Where
does
this
gentleman
come
from
?
"
"
Cheltenham
,
I
believe
.
"
"
Surely
,
you
must
know
that
,
if
he
is
an
eminent
man
;
living
there
yourself
!
"
I
saw
that
she
had
brought
him
.
"
Well
,
"
she
answered
sharply
,
"
it
matters
little
where
he
comes
from
,
and
I
have
not
verified
his
residence
.
I
fear
all
the
doctors
in
Europe
could
not
save
your
poor
dear
uncle
.
"
And
here
(
from
habit
when
death
was
thought
of
)
she
fell
into
the
hypocritical
vein
once
more
—
"
Ah
,
how
true
it
is
!
The
thing
that
will
most
avail
him
now
,
when
his
poor
sinful
frame
is
perishing
,
and
the
old
man
with
all
its
works
—
"
"
Thank
you
.
I
know
all
that
.
Which
room
does
my
uncle
occupy
?
"
"
Surely
,
you
never
would
think
of
disturbing
him
at
midnight
!
"
"
Does
death
look
what
o'clock
it
is
?
If
he
is
really
dying
,
I
must
see
him
at
once
.
"
She
seemed
resolved
to
prevent
me
.
I
was
determined
to
do
it
.
It
is
needless
to
tell
all
her
stratagems
,
and
needless
to
say
(
unless
I
have
failed
to
depict
myself
)
that
they
proved
utterly
vain
.
I
was
only
surprised
that
she
did
not
come
with
me
.
CHAPTER
XVII
.
How
vast
the
rooms
appeared
to
me
,
how
endless
the
main
passages
,
after
the
dimensions
long
familiar
at
Tossil
's
Barton
,
and
Mrs.
Shelfer
's
.
I
even
feared
to
lose
the
way
,
where
my
childish
feet
had
measured
every
step
.
First
I
hurried
to
my
own
snug
room
,
or
rooms
—
for
I
had
parlour
and
bedroom
adjoining
—
in
the
western
wing
,
where
mother
used
to
live
.
Everything
there
was
in
beautiful
order
,
a
lamp
and
a
good
fire
lighted
;
and
Matilda
Jenkins
met
me
at
the
door
.
Directly
after
our
departure
for
Devonshire
,
Mr.
Vaughan
had
thought
fit
to
discharge
all
the
old
servants
,
except
the
housekeeper
and
Matilda
.
They
were
all
in
league
against
him
,
for
they
could
not
bear
that
the
"
rightful
owners
,
"
whom
they
had
known
so
long
,
should
be
ejected
.
Moreover
,
his
discipline
was
far
more
stern
than
ours
;
for
my
father
and
mother
had
always
ruled
by
love
.
The
housekeeper
,
a
great
friend
of
mine
,
was
retained
from
respect
and
policy
,
and
poor
Tilly
(
who
entered
life
through
a
dust-bin
)
from
contempt
of
her
insignificance
.
By
that
time
she
had
risen
to
the
rank
of
scullery-maid
and
deputy
dishwasher
;
now
she
had
climbed
in
the
social
scale
to
the
position
of
under-housemaid
.
"
Why
,
Matilda
,
how
well
you
look
,
and
how
smart
!
I
declare
you
are
getting
quite
tall
.
I
suppose
the
new
times
agree
with
you
better
than
the
old
.
"
"
Oh
do
n't
say
that
,
Miss
Clara
,
please
do
n't
!
I
'd
tear
the
gownd
off
my
back
"
—
looking
savagely
at
the
neat
print
—
"
if
I
thought
it
make
you
think
that
.
No
,
I
gets
a
little
more
wages
,
but
a
deal
more
work
,
and
I
never
gets
a
kind
word
.
Oh
it
does
my
heart
good
to
see
you
here
again
,
in
your
own
house
,
Miss
Clara
dear
,
and
evil
to
them
as
drove
you
out
"
—
and
she
lifted
the
corner
of
her
new
white
muslin
apron
;
—
"
and
I
have
tended
your
rooms
all
myself
,
though
it
was
n't
in
my
part
,
and
never
let
no
one
else
touch
them
,
ever
since
I
was
took
from
the
kitchen
,
and
always
a
jug
full
of
flowers
,
Miss
,
because
you
was
so
fond
of
them
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
Matilda
.
How
kind
of
you
,
to
be
sure
!
"
"
Many
's
the
time
I
've
cried
over
them
,
Miss
,
and
the
new
shilling
you
give
me
,
when
we
was
little
girls
together
.
But
please
to
call
me
'
Tilly
,
'
Miss
,
the
same
as
you
always
used
.
"
"
I
ca
n't
stop
to
talk
to
you
now
,
Tilly
;
how
is
Mrs.
Fletcher
?
"
"
Quite
hearty
,
Miss
,
all
but
the
rheumatics
.
Ah
,
she
do
suffer
terrible
from
them
.
Us
both
waited
up
,
Miss
,
and
I
to
and
fro
the
door
,
till
the
carriage
come
home
;
and
then
she
went
off
to
bed
,
and
I
was
up
with
her
,
and
never
knowed
when
you
come
.
But
she
's
getting
up
now
,
Miss
,
to
come
here
to
see
you
.
"
"
Go
and
stop
her
,
at
once
.
I
will
see
her
to-morrow
.
Stop
,
show
me
first
your
master
's
room
;
knock
gently
and
bring
out
the
nurse
.
The
doctor
is
gone
I
believe
.
"
"
Yes
,
Miss
,
he
left
here
at
eight
o'clock
,
for
he
had
a
long
way
to
drive
,
and
he
could
n't
do
nothing
more
.
But
you
must
not
go
,
Miss
,
oh
pray
,
Miss
,
do
n't
go
there
!
"
We
went
along
the
passage
,
until
we
came
to
the
door
.
I
was
surprised
to
see
a
new
door
across
the
lobby
,
very
closely
fitted
.
There
was
an
inner
door
also
,
and
the
nurse
did
not
seem
very
wakeful
.
Instead
of
knocking
again
,
Matilda
retreated
hastily
.
At
last
the
nurse
appeared
,
and
I
found
her
to
be
a
very
respectable
woman
,
who
had
been
with
my
mother
,
through
several
attacks
of
illness
.
A
dark
suspicion
,
which
I
had
scarcely
confessed
to
myself
,
was
partly
allayed
hereby
.
After
whispering
for
a
few
moments
,
she
led
me
into
the
dimly
lighted
room
,
and
to
my
uncle
's
bed
.
I
started
back
in
terror
.
Prepared
as
I
was
for
a
very
great
change
,
what
I
saw
astounded
me
.
The
face
so
drawn
and
warped
aside
,
withered
and
yet
pulpy
,
with
an
undercast
of
blue
;
the
lines
of
the
mouth
so
trenched
and
livid
,
that
the
screwed
lips
were
like
a
bull's-eye
in
a
blue
diamond
pane
;
and
the
hair
,
so
dark
and
curly
when
last
I
saw
him
,
now
shredded
in
patches
of
waxy
gray
.
The
only
sign
of
life
I
saw
,
was
a
feeble
twitching
of
the
bed-clothes
,
every
now
and
then
.
The
poor
eyes
were
closed
,
hard
,
and
wrinkled
round
;
one
wasted
arm
lay
on
the
quilt
,
the
hand
bent
up
at
the
wrist
,
the
fingers
clutched
yet
flabby
,
and
as
cold
as
death
.
It
was
a
sight
for
human
pride
to
cower
at
,
and
be
quelled
.
"
Is
he
like
this
always
?
"
"
No
,
"
she
replied
,
"
but
he
has
been
so
now
for
ten
hours
and
more
:
generally
he
is
taken
with
pain
and
thirst
,
every
six
hours
;
and
it
makes
my
heart
ache
to
hear
him
moan
and
cry
.
"
"
Does
he
say
anything
particular
then
?
"
God
knows
I
was
not
pursuing
my
own
fell
purpose
in
asking
this
.
Thank
Him
,
I
was
not
such
a
fiend
as
that
.
All
I
wished
was
to
relieve
him
whom
I
pitied
so
.
"
Yes
,
he
opens
his
eyes
and
stares
,
and
then
he
always
says
,
and
he
tries
to
shake
his
head
only
he
is
n't
strong
enough
,
'
My
fault
,
ah
me
,
my
fault
,
and
to
rob
them
too
!
If
I
could
but
see
her
,
if
I
could
but
see
her
,
and
die
!
'
He
always
says
that
first
,
and
then
that
exhausts
him
so
,
he
can
hardly
say
'
water
'
after
,
and
then
he
moans
so
melancholy
,
and
then
he
goes
off
again
.
"
The
tears
stood
in
her
eyes
,
for
she
had
a
tender
heart
.
I
burst
into
my
usual
violent
flood
,
for
I
never
have
any
half-crying
.
"
Have
you
any
medicine
to
give
him
?
"
"
No
,
Miss
,
no
more
;
he
has
taken
a
shopful
already
,
though
he
can
only
swallow
at
the
time
he
wakes
up
.
The
doctor
said
to-night
he
could
do
no
more
;
this
awful
black
fever
must
end
in
mortification
;
no
medicine
moves
it
at
all
.
"
"
Did
the
doctor
call
it
black
fever
?
"
"
Yes
,
the
very
worst
form
of
typhus
of
the
real
Irish
type
,
such
as
they
have
had
once
or
twice
in
Manchester
.
It
has
settled
most
on
the
stomach
,
but
all
the
blood
is
poisoned
.
"
And
she
sprinkled
herself
,
and
the
bed
again
,
with
disinfecting
fluid
,
and
threw
some
over
me
.
"
Excuse
me
,
Miss
,
you
would
n't
allow
me
,
so
I
am
bound
not
to
ask
you
.
You
know
you
came
in
dead
against
my
will
,
and
dead
against
all
orders
"
—
this
was
what
the
whispering
had
been
about
—
"
and
if
anything
happens
to
you
,
Miss
Vaughan
,
who
is
to
have
all
the
property
,
but
that
bad
Mrs.
Daldy
?
"
Oh
!
In
a
moment
I
saw
the
whole
;
though
it
was
too
black
for
belief
,
blacker
than
any
fever
that
festers
the
human
heart
.
This
was
the
purpose
with
which
that
woman
had
sent
for
me
.
She
had
lied
to
me
as
to
the
character
of
the
disease
.
She
had
opposed
me
,
because
she
knew
it
the
surest
way
to
urge
me
.
She
had
brought
me
too
at
night
,
when
fevers
are
doubly
infectious
.
"
You
see
,
Miss
,
we
are
forced
to
keep
the
three
windows
open
,
and
the
passage
doors
all
closed
.
It
's
a
wonder
I
had
any
of
the
fluid
left
,
for
they
never
sent
it
up
this
afternoon
;
but
I
had
a
drop
put
by
,
no
thanks
to
them
for
the
same
.
Mrs.
Daldy
brought
the
first
nurse
,
but
she
ran
clean
away
when
the
fever
took
the
turn
;
and
they
were
forced
to
send
for
me
,
for
nobody
else
would
come
near
him
.
But
my
poor
old
man
has
no
work
,
and
I
've
minded
as
bad
a
case
as
this
,
and
they
say
I
be
fever-proof
.
But
you
,
Miss
,
you
;
I
should
never
forgive
myself
,
if
anything
happened
to
you
,
and
in
your
youth
and
bloom
.
Though
I
could
not
stop
you
,
you
know
I
did
my
best
.
And
they
say
you
catch
things
most
when
you
come
off
a
journey
.
"
"
Jane
,
whatever
happens
,
you
are
not
to
blame
.
I
have
no
fear
whatever
;
and
now
I
am
here
,
I
will
stay
.
It
is
safer
so
,
both
for
myself
and
others
.
"
"
Well
,
Miss
,
so
I
have
heard
say
.
Once
in
for
it
,
keep
to
the
air
.
But
come
into
this
little
room
,
if
you
want
to
talk
to
me
,
Miss.
We
can
hear
the
poor
gentleman
move
,
or
even
sigh
;
and
the
air
is
a
little
fresher
there
.
But
we
must
keep
the
window
open
.
"
She
led
me
into
the
dressing
room
;
but
even
there
the
same
crawling
creeping
smell
pervaded
,
as
if
a
grave
had
been
opened
,
when
the
ground
was
full
of
gas
.
Instead
of
talking
to
the
nurse
,
I
began
to
think
.
It
broke
upon
me
vaguely
,
that
I
had
heard
of
some
very
simple
remedy
for
a
fever
of
this
nature
,
and
that
my
dear
mother
,
who
in
her
prosperous
times
was
the
village
doctoress
,
had
been
acquainted
with
the
case
.
But
in
the
whirl
of
my
brain
,
I
could
not
bring
to
mind
what
it
was
.
Oh
what
would
I
give
,
only
to
think
of
it
now
!
Though
not
,
I
am
sorry
to
say
,
at
all
of
a
pious
turn
(
at
least
if
Mrs.
Daldy
is
so
)
,
in
the
strong
feeling
of
the
moment
,
I
fell
upon
my
knees
,
and
prayed
for
help
.
So
had
my
mother
taught
me
,
and
Mother
Nature
taught
me
now
.
I
will
not
be
so
daring
as
to
say
that
my
prayer
was
answered
.
Perhaps
it
was
only
that
it
calmed
my
mind
.
"
Jane
,
have
they
been
brewing
lately
?
"
Alas
the
bathos
!
But
I
ca
n't
help
it
.
"
Yes
,
Miss
;
last
Thursday
and
Friday
.
They
wo
n't
let
me
go
near
the
kitchen
part
:
but
I
know
it
all
the
same
.
"
"
Go
and
get
me
a
nice
jug
of
fresh
yeast
.
I
will
watch
your
master
.
"
She
stared
,
and
hesitated
;
but
saw
that
I
was
in
earnest
.
"
I
do
n't
know
where
to
find
it
,
Miss
;
and
none
of
them
will
come
near
me
;
and
they
'll
stop
me
too
if
they
can
.
Why
they
wo
n't
bring
my
food
to
the
door
,
but
put
it
half-way
down
the
passage
.
They
wanted
to
lock
me
in
,
only
I
would
n't
stand
that
;
and
they
break
all
the
plates
and
dishes
,
and
to-day
they
sent
word
that
my
dinner
must
come
in
at
the
window
to-morrow
.
"
"
Low
cowards
and
zanies
!
Now
find
the
yeast
,
Jane
,
if
you
have
to
search
for
an
hour
.
They
must
all
be
gone
to
bed
now
,
except
Matilda
Jenkins
;
and
she
dare
not
stop
you
if
you
say
you
have
my
orders
.
"
"
Bless
you
,
Miss
;
she
'll
run
away
as
if
I
was
a
ghost
.
"
"
Then
call
to
her
,
that
I
say
she
must
go
to
bed
directly
.
"
After
a
few
more
words
,
Jane
went
her
way
stealthily
,
like
a
thorough-bred
thief
;
and
I
was
left
alone
with
my
poor
dying
uncle
.
Wonderful
as
it
seemed
to
me
,
I
felt
now
a
tender
affection
for
him
,
I
the
resolute
,
the
consistent
,
the
bitter
Clara
Vaughan
.
Even
if
he
had
told
me
that
moment
,
that
he
had
plotted
my
father
's
death
,
I
would
have
perilled
my
life
for
his
;
because
I
should
have
known
that
he
was
sorry
.
Yet
I
was
full
of
cold
fear
,
lest
he
should
awake
to
consciousness
,
and
utter
that
awful
cry
,
while
I
alone
was
with
him
,
in
the
dead
hour
of
night
.
Sooner
than
I
expected
,
the
nurse
came
back
with
a
jug
of
beautiful
yeast
,
smelling
as
fresh
as
daybreak
.
We
put
it
outside
the
window
on
the
stone
sill
,
to
keep
it
cool
and
airy
.
She
had
seen
no
one
except
Matilda
,
who
was
waiting
for
me
,
and
crying
dreadfully
,
predicting
my
certain
death
,
and
her
own
too
;
if
she
should
have
to
attend
me
.
She
kept
at
a
most
respectful
distance
from
Jane
;
and
,
with
all
her
affection
,
was
glad
to
be
clear
of
me
for
the
night
.
For
nearly
two
hours
,
the
nurse
and
I
sat
watching
,
with
hardly
a
spoken
word
,
except
that
I
asked
one
question
.
"
How
often
has
Mrs.
Daldy
been
to
see
my
uncle
?
"
"
She
would
hardly
leave
his
bedside
,
until
the
fever
declared
itself
.
Since
then
she
has
not
been
once
.
"
Broad
awake
at
that
strange
hour
,
and
in
that
strange
way
,
I
began
to
pass
through
the
stereoscope
of
my
brain
the
many
strange
slides
of
my
life
.
Of
all
of
these
,
the
last
for
the
moment
seemed
the
strangest
.
Suddenly
we
heard
a
low
feeble
moan
.
Running
into
the
bedroom
,
there
we
saw
the
poor
sick
one
with
his
eyes
wide
open
,
vainly
attempting
to
rise
.
I
put
my
arms
around
him
,
and
raised
him
on
the
pillow
.
He
tried
to
say
'
thank
you
,
'
for
he
was
always
a
gentleman
in
his
manners
;
then
he
gazed
at
me
with
hazily
wondering
eyes
.
Then
he
opened
his
mouth
in
a
spasmodic
way
,
and
began
that
bitter
cry
.
Ere
he
closed
his
mouth
again
,
I
poured
well
into
his
throat
a
table-spoonful
of
yeast
,
handed
to
me
by
Jane
.
To
my
great
pleasure
,
it
glided
beyond
the
black
tongue
;
and
I
gave
him
two
more
spoonfuls
,
while
he
was
staring
at
me
with
a
weak
and
rigid
amazement
.
"
No
water
,
Jane
,
not
a
drop
of
water
!
It
will
work
far
better
alone
.
He
does
n't
know
what
it
is
,
and
he
thinks
he
has
had
his
water
.
Keep
him
thirsty
that
he
may
take
more
.
"
As
he
lay
thus
in
my
arms
,
I
felt
that
one
side
was
icily
cold
,
and
the
other
fiery
hot
.
His
face
looked
most
ghastly
and
livid
,
but
there
was
not
that
mystical
gray
upon
it
,
like
the
earth-shine
on
the
moon
,
which
shows
when
the
face
of
man
is
death
's
mirror
,
and
the
knee
of
death
on
man
's
heart
.
In
a
minute
he
slid
from
my
grasp
,
down
on
the
pillow
again
,
and
,
with
a
long-drawn
sigh
,
became
once
more
stiff
and
insensible
.
My
hope
was
faint
indeed
,
but
still
it
was
hope
:
if
he
had
hope
's
vitality
,
he
might
yet
be
saved
.
The
rest
of
that
night
was
passed
by
the
nurse
and
myself
in
heavy
yet
broken
sleep
.
Jane
assured
me
that
there
was
no
chance
of
my
poor
uncle
becoming
conscious
again
,
for
at
least
six
hours
.
I
was
loth
to
forego
my
watch
,
and
argued
that
the
dose
we
had
given
might
cut
short
this
interval
;
but
lo
—
while
I
kept
repeating
at
weary
and
weary
periods
,
that
I
could
do
no
harm
,
since
the
physician
gave
up
,
and
I
might
do
good
—
sleep
,
the
lover
of
repetition
,
laid
his
hand
alike
on
my
formula
and
myself
.
Dear
Judy
's
howl
was
in
my
dream
,
and
Mrs.
Shelfer
's
never
ceasing
prattle
.
CHAPTER
XVIII
.
Cold
and
fresh
was
the
morning
air
,
and
the
open
window
invited
the
sounds
of
country
life
.
Who
could
think
of
fever
with
the
bright
dew
sparkling
on
the
lawn
,
the
lilac
buds
growing
fat
enough
to
claim
their
right
of
shadow
,
the
pleasant
ring
of
the
sharpening
scythe
,
and
the
swishing
sweep
of
the
swathe
?
From
the
stable-yard
,
round
the
corner
,
came
the
soothing
hiss
of
the
grooms
,
the
short
stamp
of
the
lively
steed
(
I
fancied
I
knew
my
own
favourite
"
Lilla
"
)
,
and
the
gruff
"
Stand
still
,
mare
,
wull'e
?
"
Far
down
the
avenue
whistled
the
cowboy
,
waddle-footed
,
on
his
way
to
the
clover
leys
,
or
the
milkmaid
sung
with
the
pail
on
her
hip
,
and
the
deer
came
trooping
and
stooping
their
horns
along
.
Was
it
not
one
of
my
own
pet
robins
,
who
hopped
on
the
window-sill
,
peered
bravely
at
himself
in
the
jug
,
and
tried
to
remember
the
last
of
his
winter
notes
?
But
it
is
cold
,
Jane
,
very
cold
indeed
;
and
we
have
never
been
to
bed
;
and
now
the
mowers
have
descried
us
,
why
do
they
stop
their
work
,
and
shake
their
heads
together
so
,
and
keep
outside
the
ranunculus
bed
,
and
agree
that
the
grass
beneath
our
windows
does
not
require
cutting
?
Why
,
if
they
were
Papists
,
they
would
cross
themselves
,
and
that
saves
many
an
oath
.
But
the
grass
does
want
cutting
,
Jane
.
It
cannot
have
been
cut
for
a
week
.
I
will
call
to
them
.
No
,
it
might
disturb
my
uncle
.
There
is
no
sound
from
the
bed-room
yet
:
all
deep
and
deadly
silence
.
I
will
go
and
see
.
There
my
patient
lies
,
just
as
when
I
saw
him
first
,
except
that
I
have
arranged
the
wreck
of
his
hoary
locks
,
and
applied
a
lotion
to
his
temple
on
the
burning
side
.
And
yet
,
now
I
look
closer
,
the
face
is
not
quite
so
livid
;
or
is
it
the
difference
between
the
candle-light
and
the
morning
ray
?
Even
while
I
looked
,
he
started
up
,
as
if
my
eyes
revived
him
.
He
did
not
moan
or
cry
;
but
opened
wide
his
filmy
eyes
,
and
gazed
feebly
and
placidly
at
me
.
For
a
time
he
did
not
know
me
:
then
a
great
change
gradually
crept
through
his
long
faltering
gaze
.
Fearing
the
effects
of
excitement
upon
him
,
I
tried
to
divert
his
attention
by
another
good
dose
of
yeast
.
Three
times
he
took
it
with
resignation
like
a
well-trained
child
,
but
his
eyes
all
the
time
intent
on
me
.
Presently
they
began
to
swim
and
swerve
;
the
effort
of
the
faint
blood-tissued
brain
and
the
exertion
of
swallowing
had
been
too
much
for
his
shattered
powers
.
He
fell
off
again
into
the
comatose
state
,
but
with
a
palpable
difference
.
The
pulse
,
which
had
throbbed
on
the
hot
side
only
,
could
now
be
felt
most
feebly
moving
in
the
other
wrist
,
and
the
tension
of
the
muscles
was
relaxed
:
circulation
was
being
restored
and
balanced
,
and
the
breathing
could
now
be
traced
,
short
as
it
was
and
irregular
.
I
have
not
time
to
describe
all
the
symptoms
of
gradual
improvement
,
and
I
have
not
the
medical
knowledge
needful
to
do
so
clearly
.
Enough
that
the
six-hour
interval
was
shortened
that
day
by
half
,
that
the
breathing
became
more
regular
,
and
a
soft
perspiration
broke
through
the
clogged
and
clammy
pores
.
Jane
wanted
to
second
this
by
an
additional
blanket
,
but
I
feared
to
allow
it
in
a
case
of
so
utter
prostration
.
When
the
perspiration
was
over
,
then
I
prescribed
the
blanket
for
fear
of
a
chill
reaction
.
At
every
return
of
consciousness
,
our
patient
made
an
effort
to
speak
,
but
I
hushed
him
with
my
hand
on
his
lips
,
and
he
even
managed
to
smile
,
when
he
found
that
I
would
be
obeyed
.
In
the
evening
he
tried
to
open
his
arms
to
me
,
and
then
tried
to
push
me
away
,
in
some
faint
recollection
of
the
nature
of
his
disorder
.
To
me
the
interest
was
so
intense
,
and
the
delight
so
deep
,
that
if
I
had
lost
him
now
,
it
would
surely
have
broken
my
heart
.
At
sunset
of
that
day
,
as
nurse
and
I
sat
near
the
dressing-room
window
,
watching
the
slant
rays
flickering
on
the
sward
,
and
the
rooks
alighting
and
swinging
over
their
noisy
nests
,
a
black
cloud
hung
for
a
moment
just
above
the
sun
,
a
black
cloud
with
a
vivid
edge
of
gold
.
It
tempered
the
light
in
a
peculiar
manner
,
and
seemed
to
throw
it
downwards
.
Peering
through
my
fingers
at
it
,
for
it
was
very
beautiful
,
I
saw
a
whitish
mist
or
vapour
steaming
and
hovering
above
the
disk
of
the
setting
sun
,
between
my
eyes
and
that
golden
marge
.
I
wondered
what
this
could
be
;
there
was
no
heat
to
cause
strong
evaporation
,
nor
any
mist
or
dewy
haze
about
,
nor
was
the
sun
"
drawing
water
.
"
But
what
I
saw
was
like
that
trembling
twinkle
of
the
air
,
which
we
often
observe
on
a
meadow
footpath
in
the
hot
forenoon
of
July
.
I
drew
Jane
's
attention
to
it
,
not
expecting
any
solution
,
but
just
for
something
to
say
.
"
Dear
me
,
Miss
,
do
n't
you
know
what
that
is
?
I
see
it
every
evening
;
it
will
be
twice
as
plain
when
the
sun
goes
down
,
and
then
it
will
be
quite
white
.
"
"
Well
,
what
is
it
?
Why
ca
n't
you
tell
me
?
Is
everything
here
a
secret
?
"
I
was
rather
irritable
,
but
vexed
with
myself
for
being
so
.
Too
much
excitement
and
too
little
sleep
were
the
causes
.
"
No
,
Miss
,
there
's
no
secret
at
all
about
that
.
Every
one
knows
what
that
is
.
It
's
only
the
scum
that
rises
through
the
grass
from
the
arched
pool
that
takes
all
the
drains
of
the
house
.
Some
of
the
arch
fell
in
they
say
,
and
the
ground
shakes
when
they
mow
it
;
they
are
afraid
to
roll
there
.
"
"
Is
it
possible
?
And
you
knew
it
,
a
practised
nurse
like
you
!
Did
my
uncle
know
it
?
"
"
I
am
sure
,
Miss
,
I
ca
n't
tell
:
most
likely
not
,
or
he
would
have
had
it
mended
,
he
hates
things
out
of
repair
.
But
it
ca
n't
do
any
harm
,
with
the
mould
and
the
grass
above
it
.
"
"
Ca
n't
it
indeed
?
And
you
can
see
it
rise
.
Shut
all
the
bedroom
windows
in
a
moment
,
Jane
.
I
'll
shut
this
.
"
She
thought
my
wits
were
wandering
,
from
what
I
had
gone
through
;
nevertheless
she
obeyed
me
.
It
happened
that
I
had
attended
,
at
Isola
's
urgent
request
,
one
lecture
of
the
many
delivered
by
Dr.
Ross
.
She
forgot
what
the
subject
was
to
be
.
It
proved
to
be
an
unsavoury
and
"
unlady-like
"
one
—
Mephitis
.
Isola
wanted
to
run
away
,
but
I
have
none
of
that
nonsense
about
me
,
when
human
life
is
concerned
,
and
listened
with
great
attention
,
and
even
admiration
;
for
he
handled
the
matter
eloquently
and
well
.
"
Now
,
Jane
,
throw
all
the
doors
open
,
and
the
lobby
window
that
looks
in
the
other
direction
.
When
do
you
think
it
will
be
possible
to
move
our
poor
patient
from
these
rooms
?
The
air
here
is
deadly
poison
.
"
"
Well
I
'm
sure
,
Miss
!
And
he
could
n't
have
a
nicer
nor
a
more
airy
room
;
and
all
my
things
in
order
too
,
and
so
handy
,
and
so
many
cupboards
!
"
"
Out
of
this
poison
he
must
go
.
When
can
he
be
moved
?
"
"
Well
,
Miss
,
he
might
be
moved
to-morrow
,
if
we
could
only
get
plenty
of
hands
,
and
do
it
cleverly
.
"
"
Surely
we
can
have
plenty
of
hands
.
There
used
to
be
twenty-five
servants
here
;
and
I
have
not
heard
that
my
uncle
has
lessened
the
number
.
"
"
No
,
Miss
;
but
save
and
keep
us
,
we
sha
n't
get
one
of
them
here
.
"
"
Nonsense
!
I
will
have
them
,
or
they
leave
the
house
.
Of
course
I
wo
n't
peril
their
lives
.
We
shall
only
want
two
or
three
;
and
they
may
take
a
bath
of
disinfecting
stuff
,
with
all
their
clothes
on
,
before
they
come
;
and
they
may
smoke
all
the
while
.
"
The
nurse
laughed
grimly
,
and
shook
her
gray
head
.
"
And
we
will
fumigate
,
Jane
,
fumigate
tremendously
.
Surely
Englishmen
have
more
self-respect
than
to
be
such
babies
,
and
you
a
woman
,
and
I
a
girl
,
shaming
them
out
of
face
.
"
"
It
does
n't
matter
,
Miss
;
they
wo
n't
come
.
I
know
them
well
,
the
lot
I
mean
that
are
in
the
house
now
.
"
"
Very
well
,
Jane
,
we
'll
have
Gamekeeper
Hiatt
,
and
his
eldest
son
;
they
are
men
I
know
.
And
if
that
is
not
enough
,
we
'll
send
to
Gloucester
for
Thomas
Henwood
.
But
why
do
n't
you
open
the
lobby
door
,
as
I
told
you
?
"
"
If
you
please
,
Miss
,
I
ca
n't
.
They
have
fastened
it
outside
.
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
say
that
they
have
dared
to
lock
us
in
?
"
"
Indeed
I
do
,
Miss
;
we
have
been
fastened
in
since
the
morning
.
"
"
And
pray
,
why
did
you
not
tell
me
?
'
"
Because
I
feared
to
excite
you
,
Miss.
I
know
your
temper
when
you
are
wronged
,
ever
since
you
was
that
high
;
and
in
this
fever
air
,
excitement
is
sure
to
kill
you
.
Brutes
!
But
I
suppose
they
do
n't
know
it
.
"
"
They
know
it
well
;
at
least
the
master-spirit
does
.
And
for
that
very
reason
I
will
crush
my
indignation
.
Since
I
was
that
high
,
Jane
,
I
have
passed
through
much
tribulation
,
and
have
dropped
my
lady-heiress
tone
.
I
can
now
command
myself
.
"
"
Then
,
Miss
,
I
will
show
you
what
they
sent
this
morning
,
round
the
handle
of
the
coffee-jug
.
I
was
afraid
to
let
you
see
it
before
.
"
She
gave
me
a
twist
of
paper
,
on
which
was
written
as
follows
:
—
"
For
the
safety
of
the
household
,
Mrs.
Fletcher
orders
that
the
persons
in
the
fever-room
be
allowed
no
communication
with
the
other
servants
.
The
intercepting
door
is
fastened
,
because
a
most
sinful
un-Christian
act
was
perpetrated
last
night
.
Due
supplies
will
be
delivered
once
a-day
,
at
10
A.M.
No
empty
vessels
and
no
correspondence
received
.
Any
attempt
to
break
these
rules
will
be
punished
by
suspension
of
supplies
.
Servants
are
forbidden
to
come
beneath
the
sick-room
windows
.
May
the
Lord
have
you
in
His
keeping
,
in
His
tender
mercy
,
according
to
His
holy
will
.
You
are
requested
to
read
Philippians
i
.
8-11
inclusive
.
There
are
three
holy
bibles
on
the
drawers
and
dressing-tables
.
"
When
I
had
read
this
,
and
perceived
,
by
the
blasphemy
at
the
end
,
that
it
could
proceed
from
no
other
than
that
awful
woman
,
I
confess
that
my
spirit
was
cowed
within
me
.
Not
from
selfish
fear
,
nor
yet
from
the
taming
of
passion
,
but
from
the
lowering
thought
that
I
belonged
to
the
same
race
of
being
as
the
author
of
such
Satanity
.
Presently
,
I
became
too
indignant
to
speak
,
or
even
think
.
It
added
,
if
that
were
possible
,
to
my
indignation
,
that
I
had
seen
her
leave
the
house
,
about
nine
o'clock
that
morning
,
in
our
best
close
carriage
.
She
kept
the
windows
up
until
she
was
past
the
lawn
and
the
light
iron
gates
,
beyond
the
arcade
of
roses
;
then
,
at
the
first
turn
in
the
avenue
,
she
let
down
the
glass
and
gracefully
kissed
her
hand
to
me
.
I
did
not
believe
,
however
,
that
she
was
gone
back
to
Cheltenham
.
With
so
much
at
stake
in
our
house
,
and
depending
on
her
direction
,
she
would
surely
stop
in
the
neighbourhood
,
if
only
to
watch
the
course
of
events
.
Sooner
than
I
dared
to
expect
,
I
regained
the
command
of
myself
;
horror
within
me
was
stronger
than
wrath
,
and
stronger
than
either
became
the
resolve
to
survive
and
win
.
"
There
can
be
no
God
,
"
I
exclaimed
,
in
my
presumptuous
ignorance
,
"
if
this
scheme
of
the
devil
is
permitted
to
triumph
.
"
First
I
tried
the
door
,
which
severed
us
from
the
rest
of
the
house
.
My
uncle
's
rooms
were
in
the
western
wing
,
very
near
those
which
my
dear
mother
had
occupied
,
and
not
very
far
from
my
own
.
They
formed
one
floor
of
the
western
gable
;
the
three
bedroom
windows
and
that
of
the
dressing-room
looked
to
the
west
,
while
the
great
lobby
window
,
from
which
I
had
seen
Mrs.
Daldy
's
departure
,
looked
southward
along
the
avenue
,
the
curve
of
which
could
be
seen
also
from
the
bedroom
windows
.
An
oaken
door
,
at
the
end
of
the
main
passage
,
cut
off
the
rooms
in
this
storey
of
the
