Heshall
,
madam
,
if
it
is
as
I
suspect
.
I
will
stay
here
all
night
but
I
will
master
this
case
;
and
lay
it
before
the
Board
myself
without
delay
.
”
Julia
looked
at
her
mother
,
and
then
asked
if
it
would
be
wrong
to
inquire
“
the
poor
gentleman
's
name
?
”
“
Humph
!
”
said
the
official
;
“
I
ought
not
to
reveal
that
without
his
consent
.
But
stay
!
he
will
owe
you
much
,
and
it
really
seems
a
pity
he
should
not
have
an
opportunity
of
expressing
his
gratitude
.
Perhaps
you
will
favour
me
with
your
address
:
and
trust
to
my
discretion
.
Of
course
,
if
he
does
not
turn
out
as
sane
as
he
seems
,
I
shall
never
let
him
know
it
.
”
Mrs.
Dodd
then
gave
her
address
;
and
she
and
Julia
went
home
with
a
glow
about
the
heart
selfish
people
,
thank
Heaven
,
never
know
.
Unconsciously
these
two
had
dealt
their
enemy
and
Alfred
's
a
heavy
blow
;
had
set
the
train
to
a
mine
.
Their
friend
at
the
office
was
a
man
of
another
stamp
than
Alfred
had
fallen
in
with
.
Meantime
Alfred
was
subjected
to
hourly
mortifications
and
irritations
.
He
guessed
the
motive
,
and
tried
to
baffle
it
by
calm
self-possession
:
but
this
was
far
more
difficult
than
heretofore
,
because
his
temper
was
now
exacerbated
and
his
fibre
irritated
by
broken
sleep
(
of
this
poor
David
was
a
great
cause
)
,
and
his
heart
inflamed
and
poisoned
by
that
cruel
,
that
corroding
passion
jealousy
.
To
think
,
that
while
he
was
in
prison
,
a
rival
was
ever
at
his
Julia
's
ear
,
making
more
and
more
progress
in
her
heart
!
This
corroder
was
his
bitter
companion
day
and
night
;
and
perhaps
of
all
the
maddeners
human
cunning
could
have
invented
this
was
the
worst
.
It
made
his
temples
beat
and
his
blood
run
boiling
poison
.
Indeed
,
there
were
times
when
he
was
so
distempered
by
passion
that
homicide
seemed
but
an
act
of
justice
,
and
suicide
a
legitimate
relief
.
For
who
could
go
on
for
ever
carrying
Hell
in
his
bosom
up
and
down
a
prison
yard
?
He
began
to
go
alone
!
to
turn
impatiently
from
the
petty
troubles
and
fathomless
egotism
of
those
afflicted
persons
he
had
hitherto
forced
his
sore
heart
to
pity
.
Pale
,
thin
,
and
wo-begone
,
he
walked
the
weary
gravel
,
like
the
lost
ones
in
that
Hall
of
Eblis
whose
hearts
were
a
devouring
fire
.
Even
an
inspector
with
a
naked
eye
would
no
longer
have
distinguished
him
at
first
sight
from
a
lunatic
of
the
unhappiest
class
,
the
melancholiac
.
“
Ipse
suum
cor
edens
hominum
vestigia
vitans
.
”
Mrs.
Archbold
looked
on
and
saw
this
sad
sight
,
not
with
the
pity
it
would
once
have
caused
,
but
with
a
sort
of
bitter
triumph
lightened
by
no
pleasure
,
and
darkened
by
the
shadow
of
coming
remorse
.
Yet
up
to
this
time
she
had
shown
none
of
that
inconstancy
of
purpose
which
marks
her
sex
;
while
she
did
go
far
to
justify
the
poet
's
charge
:
“
Nor
Hell
a
fury
like
a
woman
scorned
.
”
Rooke
had
a
hint
to
provoke
Alfred
to
violence
such
as
would
justify
them
in
subjecting
so
popular
a
patient
to
bodily
restraint
,
composing
draughts
,
and
other
quick
maddeners
.
Rooke
entered
into
the
game
zealously
from
two
motives
;
he
was
devoted
to
Mrs.
Archbold
,
and
he
hated
Alfred
,
who
had
openly
defied
him
,
and
mortified
his
vanity
about
Frank
Beverley
.
One
Saturday
Alfred
was
ordered
out
to
walk
with
Rooke
and
Hayes
and
Vulcan
.
He
raised
no
objection
:
suspected
,
felt
homicidal
,
suppressed
the
impulse
,
and
by
this
self-command
he
got
time
to
give
that
letter
to
Beverley
with
instructions
.
But
,
all
the
walk
,
he
was
saying
to
himself
that
Julia
was
in
the
house
,
and
he
was
kept
away
from
her
,
and
a
rival
with
her
;
this
made
him
sicken
and
rage
by
turns
.
He
came
back
in
a
state
verging
on
fury
.
On
entering
the
yard
poor
Beverley
,
who
had
done
his
bit
of
cunning
,
and
by
reaction
now
relapsed
into
extra
simplicity
,
came
running
,
and
said
,
“
I
've
done
it
;
she
has
got
it
.
”
“
What
have
you
done
?
Who
has
got
what
?
”
cried
Rooke
.
“
Do
n't
tell
,
Frank
.
”
“
If
you
do
n't
I
'll
shake
your
life
out
,
ye
young
blackguard
,
”
cried
Rooke
,
seizing
him
and
throttling
him
till
he
was
black
in
the
face
.
Alfred
's
long-pent
fury
broke
out
:
he
gnashed
his
teeth
and
dashed
his
fist
in
Rooke
's
face
.
Rooke
staggered
back
and
bellowed
with
pain
and
anger
,
then
rushing
at
him
incautiously
,
received
a
stinger
that
staggered
him
,
and
nearly
closed
his
right
eye
.
He
took
the
hint
,
and
put
himself
in
a
posture
that
showed
he
was
skilled
in
the
art
of
self-defence
.
He
stopped
two
blows
neatly
,
and
returned
a
heavy
one
upon
the
ribs
.
Alfred
staggered
back
some
steps
,
but
steadied
himself
,
and
,
as
Rooke
rushed
in
too
hastily
to
improve
his
advantage
,
caught
him
heavily
on
the
other
eye
,
but
lost
his
own
balance
a
little
,
which
enabled
Rooke
to
close
;
then
came
a
sharp
short
rally
of
re-echoing
blows
,
and
Rooke
,
not
to
be
denied
,
got
hold
of
his
man
,
and
a
wrestling
bout
ensued
,
in
which
Alfred
being
somewhat
weakened
by
misery
and
broken
rest
,
Rooke
's
great
weight
and
strength
enabled
him
,
after
a
severe
struggle
,
to
fall
with
his
antagonist
under
him
,
and
knock
the
breath
out
of
his
body
for
the
moment
.
Then
Hayes
,
who
had
stood
prudently
aloof
,
came
in
and
helped
handcuff
him
.
They
could
not
walk
up
and
down
him
for
the
Robin
,
who
stood
by
with
a
professional
air
to
see
fair
play
.
“
Ah
,
cold
iron
is
your
best
chance
,
”
he
said
satirically
.
“
Never
you
mind
,
sir
:
you
hit
quick
and
well
:
I
'd
back
you
at
long
odds
in
the
ring
:
both
his
peepers
are
in
deep
mourning
.
”
He
added
,
“
A
cow
can
beat
a
man
wrestling
.
”
When
Alfred
was
handcuffed
they
turned
him
loose
.
It
soon
transpired
,
however
,
that
he
was
now
a
dangerous
maniac
(
Formula
)
and
to
be
confined
in
the
noisy
ward
.
On
hearing
this
he
saw
the
trap
he
had
fallen
into
;
saw
and
trembled
.
He
asked
himself
what
on
earth
he
should
do
;
and
presently
the
saying
came
back
to
him
,
“
And
this
is
the
highest
stroke
of
art
,
to
turn
evil
into
good
.
”
He
argued
thus
:
Wolf
's
love
of
money
is
my
great
evil
;
he
will
destroy
me
for
money
,
do
anything
for
money
.
Then
suppose
I
offer
him
money
to
be
honest
.
He
begged
an
interview
with
Dr.
Wolf
on
business
.
This
was
accorded
at
once
.
He
asked
the
doctor
plump
whether
he
received
a
large
sum
to
detain
him
under
pretence
of
insanity
.
“
Not
very
,
considering
the
trouble
you
sometimes
give
,
Mr.
Hardie
,
”
was
the
dry
reply
.
“
Well
,
then
,
Justice
shall
outbid
rascality
for
once
.
I
am
a
sane
man
,
and
you
know
it
;
a
man
of
my
word
,
and
you
know
it
.
I
'll
give
you
a
thousand
pounds
to
let
me
out
of
this
place
.
”
Dr.
Wolf
's
eyes
sparkled
.
“
You
shall
have
any
bond
or
security
you
like
;
and
the
money
within
a
week
of
my
deliverance
.
”
Dr.
Wolf
said
he
should
be
delighted
to
do
it
,
if
he
could
conscientiously
.
At
this
piece
of
hypocrisy
Alfred
's
cheek
reddened
,
and
he
could
not
speak
.
“
Well
,
well
,
I
do
see
a
great
change
in
you
for
the
better
,
”
said
Dr.
Wolf
.
“
If
,
as
I
suspect
,
you
are
convalescent
,
I
will
part
with
you
without
a
thousand
pounds
or
a
thousand
pence
.
”
Alfred
stared
.
Had
he
mistaken
his
man
?
“
I
'll
tell
you
what
,
though
,
”
said
the
smooth
doctor
.
“
I
have
got
two
pictures
,
one
by
Raphael
,
one
by
Correggio
.
”
“
I
know
them
,
”
said
the
quick-witted
Alfred
;
“
they
are
worth
more
than
a
thousand
pounds
.
”
“
Of
course
they
are
,
but
I
would
take
a
thousand
pounds
from
you
.
”
“
Throw
me
in
my
liberty
,
and
I
'll
make
it
guineas
.
”
“
We
will
see
about
that
.
”
And
with
this
understanding
the
men
of
business
parted
.
Dr.
Wolf
consulted
Mrs.
Archbold
then
and
there
.
“
Impossible
,
”
said
she
;
“
the
law
would
dissolve
such
a
bargain
,
and
you
would
be
exposed
and
ruined
.
”
“
But
a
thousand
pounds
!
”
said
the
poor
doctor
.
“
Oh
,
he
offered
me
more
than
that
,
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
.
“
You
do
n't
mean
to
say
so
;
when
was
that
?
”
“
Do
you
remember
one
Sunday
that
I
walked
him
out
,
to
keep
clear
of
Mrs.
Dodd
?
Have
you
not
observed
that
I
have
not
repeated
the
experiment
?
”
“
Yes
.
But
I
really
do
n't
know
why
.
”
“
Will
you
promise
me
faithfully
not
to
take
any
notice
if
I
tell
you
?
”
The
doctor
promised
.
Then
she
owned
to
him
with
manifest
reluctance
that
Alfred
had
taken
advantage
of
her
kindness
,
her
indiscretion
,
in
walking
alone
with
him
,
and
made
passionate
love
to
her
.
“
He
offered
me
not
a
thousand
pounds
,
”
said
she
,
“
but
his
whole
fortune
,
and
his
heart
,
if
I
would
fly
with
him
from
these
odious
walls
;
that
was
his
expression
.
”
Then
seeing
out
of
a
corner
of
her
eye
that
the
doctor
was
turning
almost
green
with
jealousy
,
this
artist
proceeded
to
describe
the
love
scene
between
her
and
Alfred
,
with
feigned
hesitation
,
yet
minute
detail
.
Only
she
inverted
the
parts
:
Alfred
in
her
glowing
page
made
the
hot
love
;
she
listened
abashed
,
confused
,
and
tried
all
she
could
think
of
to
bring
him
to
better
sentiments
.
She
concluded
this
chapter
of
history
inverted
with
a
sigh
,
and
said
,
“
So
now
he
hates
me
,
I
believe
,
poor
fellow
.
”
“
Do
you
regret
your
refusal
?
”
asked
Dr.
Wolf
uneasily
.
“
Oh
no
,
my
dear
friend
.
Of
course
,
my
judgment
says
that
few
women
at
my
age
and
in
my
position
would
have
refused
.
But
we
poor
women
seldom
go
by
our
judgments
.
”
And
she
cast
a
tender
look
down
at
the
doctor
's
feet
.
In
short
,
she
worked
on
him
so
,
that
he
left
Alfred
at
her
disposition
,
and
was
no
sooner
gone
to
his
other
asylum
six
miles
off
;
than
the
calumniated
was
conducted
by
Hayes
and
Rooke
through
passage
after
passage
,
and
door
after
door
,
to
a
wing
of
the
building
connected
with
the
main
part
only
by
a
covered
way
.
As
they
neared
it
,
strange
noises
became
audible
.
Faint
at
first
,
they
got
louder
and
louder
.
Singing
,
roaring
,
howling
like
wolves
.
Alfred
's
flesh
began
to
creep
.
He
stopped
at
the
covered
way
:
he
would
have
fought
to
his
last
gasp
sooner
than
go
further
,
but
he
was
handcuffed
.
He
appealed
to
the
keepers
;
but
he
had
used
them
both
too
roughly
:
they
snarled
and
forced
him
on
,
and
shut
him
into
a
common
flagged
cell
,
with
a
filthy
truckle-bed
in
it
,
and
all
the
vessels
of
gutta-percha
.
Here
he
was
surrounded
by
the
desperate
order
of
maniacs
he
at
present
scarcely
knew
but
by
report
.
Throughout
that
awful
night
he
could
never
close
his
eyes
for
the
horrible
unearthly
sounds
that
assailed
him
.
Singing
,
swearing
,
howling
like
wild
beasts
!
His
right-hand
neighbour
reasoned
high
of
faith
and
works
,
ending
each
pious
argument
with
a
sudden
rhapsody
of
oaths
and
never
slept
a
wink
.
His
left-hand
neighbour
alternately
sang
,
and
shouted
,
“
Cain
was
a
murderer
,
Cain
was
a
murderer
;
”
and
howled
like
a
wolf
,
making
night
hideous
.
His
opposite
neighbour
had
an
audience
,
and
every
now
and
then
delivered
in
a
high
nasal
key
,
“
Let
us
curse
and
pray
;
”
varying
it
sometimes
thus
:
“
Brethren
,
let
us
work
double
tides
.
”
And
then
he
would
deliver
a
long
fervent
prayer
,
and
follow
it
up
immediately
with
a
torrent
of
blasphemies
so
terrific
,
that
coming
in
such
a
contrast
they
made
Alfred
's
body
wet
with
perspiration
to
hear
a
poor
creature
so
defy
his
Creator
.
No
rest
,
no
peace
.
When
it
was
still
,
the
place
was
like
the
grave
;
and
ever
and
anon
,
loud
,
sharp
,
tremendous
,
burst
a
thunderclap
of
curses
,
and
set
those
poor
demented
creatures
all
yelling
again
for
half-an-hour
,
making
the
tombs
ring
.
And
at
clock-like
intervals
a
harmless
but
dirty
idiot
,
who
was
allowed
to
roam
the
ward
,
came
and
chanted
through
the
keyhole
,
“
Everything
is
nothing
,
and
nothing
is
everything
.
”
This
was
the
only
observation
he
had
made
for
many
years
.
His
ears
assailed
with
horrors
,
of
which
you
have
literally
no
conception
,
or
shadow
of
a
conception
,
his
nose
poisoned
with
ammoniacal
vapours
,
and
the
peculiar
wild-beast
smell
that
marks
the
true
maniac
,
Alfred
ran
wildly
about
his
cell
trying
to
stop
his
ears
,
and
trembling
for
his
own
reason
.
When
the
fearful
night
rolled
away
,
and
morning
broke
,
and
he
could
stand
on
his
truckle-bed
and
see
the
sweet
hoar-frost
on
a
square
yard
of
grass
level
with
his
prison
bars
,
it
refreshed
his
very
soul
,
and
affected
him
almost
to
tears
.
He
was
then
,
to
his
surprise
,
taken
out
,
and
allowed
to
have
a
warm
bath
and
to
breakfast
with
David
and
the
rest
;
but
I
suspect
it
was
done
to
watch
the
effect
of
the
trial
he
had
been
submitted
to
.
After
breakfast
,
having
now
no
place
to
go
,
he
lay
on
a
bench
,
and
there
exhausted
nature
overpowered
him
,
and
he
fell
fast
asleep
.
Mrs.
Archbold
came
by
on
purpose
,
and
saw
him
.
He
looked
very
pale
and
peaceful
.
There
was
a
cut
on
his
forehead
due
to
Rooke
's
knuckles
.
Mrs.
Archbold
looked
down
,
and
the
young
figure
and
haughty
face
seemed
so
unresisting
and
peaceful
sad
,
she
half
relented
,
and
shed
some
bitter
tears
.
That
did
not
,
however
,
prevent
her
setting
her
female
spies
to
watch
him
more
closely
than
ever
.
He
awoke
cold
but
refreshed
,
and
found
little
Beverley
standing
by
him
with
wet
eyes
.
Alfred
smiled
and
held
out
his
hand
like
a
captive
monarch
to
his
faithful
vassal
.
“
They
sha
n't
put
you
in
the
noisy
ward
again
,
”
sobbed
Frank
.
“
This
is
your
last
night
here
.
”
“
Hy
,
Frank
,
you
rascal
,
my
boots
!
”
roared
Rooke
from
an
open
window
.
“
Coming
,
sir
—
coming
!
”
Alfred
's
next
visitor
was
the
Robin
.
He
came
whispering
,
“
It
is
all
right
with
Garrett
,
sir
,
and
he
has
got
a
key
of
the
back
gate
;
but
you
must
get
back
to
your
old
room
,
or
we
ca
n't
work
.
”
“
Would
to
Heaven
I
could
,
Robin
;
another
night
or
two
in
the
noisy
ward
will
drive
me
mad
,
I
think
.
”
“
Well
,
sir
,
I
'll
tell
you
what
you
do
:
which
we
all
have
to
do
it
at
odd
times
:
hold
a
candle
to
the
devil
:
here
she
comes
:
I
think
she
is
everywhere
all
at
one
time
.
”
The
Robin
then
sauntered
away
,
affecting
nonchalance
:
and
Alfred
proceeded
to
hold
the
candle
as
directed
.
“
Mrs.
Archbold
,
”
said
he
timidly
rising
from
his
seat
at
her
approach
.
“
Sir
,
”
said
she
haughtily
,
and
affecting
surprise
.
“
I
have
a
favour
to
ask
you
,
madam
.
Would
you
be
so
kind
as
to
let
me
go
back
to
my
room
?
”
“
What
,
you
have
found
I
am
not
so
powerless
as
you
thought
!
”
“
I
find
myself
so
weak
,
and
you
so
powerful
that
—
you
can
afford
to
be
generous
.
”
“
I
have
no
more
power
over
you
than
you
have
over
me
.
”
“
I
wish
it
was
so
.
”
“
I
'll
prove
it
,
”
said
she
.
“
Who
has
got
the
key
of
your
room
?
Hayes
?
”
She
whistled
,
and
sent
for
him
;
and
gave
him
the
requisite
order
before
Alfred
.
Alfred
thanked
her
warmly
.
She
smiled
,
and
went
away
disposed
to
change
her
tactics
,
and
,
having
shown
him
how
she
could
torment
,
try
soothing
means
,
and
open
his
heart
by
gratitude
.
But
presently
looking
out
of
her
window
she
saw
the
Robin
and
him
together
;
and
somehow
they
seemed
to
her
subtle
,
observant
eyes
,
to
be
plotting
.
The
very
suspicion
was
fatal
to
that
officer
.
His
discharge
was
determined
on
.
Meantime
she
set
her
spies
to
watch
him
,
and
tell
her
if
they
saw
or
heard
anything
.
Now
Mrs.
Archbold
was
going
out
to
tea
that
evening
,
and
,
as
soon
as
ever
this
transpired
,
the
keepers
secretly
invited
the
keeperesses
to
a
party
in
the
first-class
patients
drawing-room
.
This
was
a
rare
opportunity
,
and
the
Robin
and
Garrett
put
their
heads
together
accordingly
.
In
the
dusk
of
the
evening
the
Robin
took
an
opportunity
and
slipped
a
new
key
of
the
back
gate
into
Alfred
's
hand
,
and
told
him
“
the
trick
was
to
be
done
that
very
night
:
”
he
was
to
get
Thompson
to
go
to
bed
early
;
and
,
instead
of
taking
off
his
clothes
,
was
to
wait
in
readiness
.
“
We
have
been
plying
Hayes
already
,
”
said
the
Robin
,
“
and
,
as
soon
as
she
is
off
,
we
shall
hocuss
him
,
and
get
the
key
;
and
,
while
they
are
all
larking
in
the
drawing-room
,
off
you
go
to
Merrimashee
.
”
“
Oh
,
you
dear
Robin
!
You
have
taken
my
breath
away
.
But
how
about
Vulcan
?
”
“
Oh
,
we
know
how
to
make
him
amiable
:
a
dog-fancier
,
a
friend
of
mine
,
has
provided
the
ondeniable
where
dogs
is
concerned
:
whereby
Garrett
draws
the
varmint
into
the
scullery
,
and
shuts
him
in
,
while
I
get
the
key
from
the
other
.
It
's
all
right
.
”
“
Ah
,
Robin
,
”
said
Alfred
,
“
it
sounds
too
good
to
be
true
.
What
?
this
my
last
day
here
!
”
The
minutes
seemed
to
creep
very
slowly
till
eight
o'clock
came
.
Then
he
easily
persuaded
David
to
go
to
bed
;
Hayes
went
up
and
unlocked
the
door
for
them
:
it
closed
with
a
catch-lock
.
Hayes
was
drunk
,
but
full
of
discipline
,
and
insisted
on
the
patients
putting
out
their
clothes
;
so
Alfred
made
up
a
bundle
from
his
portmanteau
,
and
threw
it
out
.
Hayes
eyed
it
suspiciously
,
but
was
afraid
to
stoop
and
inspect
it
closer
:
for
his
drunken
instinct
told
him
he
would
pitch
on
his
head
that
moment
:
so
he
retired
grumbling
and
dangling
his
key
.
At
the
end
of
the
corridor
he
met
Mrs.
Archbold
full
dressed
,
and
with
a
candle
in
her
hand
.
She
held
the
candle
up
and
inspected
him
;
and
a
little
conversation
followed
that
sobered
Mr.
Hayes
for
a
minute
or
two
.
Mrs.
Archbold
was
no
sooner
gone
to
her
little
tea-party
than
all
the
first-class
ladies
and
gentlemen
were
sent
to
bed
to
get
a
good
sleep
for
the
good
of
their
health
,
and
the
keepers
and
keeperesses
took
their
place
and
romped
,
and
made
such
a
row
,
sleep
was
not
easy
within
hearing
of
them
.
They
sat
on
the
piano
,
they
sang
songs
to
a
drum
accompaniment
played
on
the
table
,
they
danced
,
drank
,
flirted
,
and
enjoyed
themselves
like
schoolboys
.
Hayes
alone
was
gloomy
and
morose
:
so
the
Robin
and
Garrett
consoled
him
,
drank
with
him
,
and
soothed
him
with
the
balm
of
insensibility
:
in
which
condition
they
removed
him
under
charitable
pretences
,
and
searched
his
pockets
in
the
passage
for
the
key
of
Alfred
's
room
.
To
their
infinite
surprise
and
disappointment
it
was
not
upon
him
.
The
fact
is
,
Mrs.
Archbold
had
snatched
it
from
him
in
her
wrath
,
and
put
it
in
her
own
pocket
.
How
far
her
suspicions
went
,
how
much
her
spies
had
discovered
,
I
really
do
n't
know
;
but
somehow
or
other
she
was
uneasy
in
her
mind
,
and
,
seeing
Hayes
in
such
a
state
,
she
would
not
trust
him
during
her
absence
,
but
took
the
key
away
with
her
.
The
Robin
and
Garrett
knew
nothing
of
this
,
and
were
all
abroad
,
but
they
thought
Rooke
must
have
the
key
;
so
they
proceeded
to
drink
with
him
,
and
were
just
about
to
administer
a
really
effective
soporific
in
his
grog
,
when
they
and
all
the
merry
party
were
suddenly
startled
by
violent
ringing
at
the
bell
,
and
thundering
and
halloaing
at
the
hall
door
.
The
men
jumped
to
their
feet
and
balanced
themselves
,
and
looked
half
wild
,
half
stupid
.
The
women
sat
,
and
began
to
scream
:
for
they
had
heard
a
word
that
has
terrors
for
us
all
:
peculiar
terrors
for
them
.
This
alarm
was
due
to
a
personage
hitherto
undervalued
in
the
establishment
.
Mr.
Francis
Beverley
had
been
THINKING
.
So
now
,
finding
all
the
patients
boxed
up
,
and
their
attendants
romping
in
the
drawing-room
,
he
lighted
seven
fires
,
skilfully
on
the
whole
,
for
practice
makes
perfect
;
but
,
singular
oversight
,
he
omitted
one
essential
ingredient
in
the
fire
,
and
that
was
the
grate
.
To
be
plain
,
Mr.
Francis
made
seven
bonfires
of
bed-curtains
,
chairs
,
and
other
combustibles
in
the
servants
'
garrets
,
lighted
them
contemporaneously
,
and
retired
to
the
basement
,
convinced
he
had
taken
the
surest
means
to
deliver
his
friend
out
of
Drayton
House
:
and
with
a
certain
want
of
candour
that
characterises
the
weak
,
proceeded
to
black
his
other
bad
master
's
shoes
with
singular
assiduity
.
There
was
no
wind
to
blow
the
flame
;
but
it
was
a
clear
frost
;
and
soon
fiery
tongues
shot
out
of
three
garret-windows
into
the
night
,
and
lurid
gleams
burnished
four
more
,
and
the
old
house
was
burning
merrily
overhead
,
and
ringing
with
hilarity
on
the
first
floor
.
But
the
neighbours
saw
,
pointed
,
wondered
,
comprehended
,
shouted
,
rang
,
knocked
,
and
surged
round
the
iron
gate
.
“
Fire
!
fire
!
fire
!
”
and
“
Fire
!
”
went
down
the
road
,
and
men
on
horseback
galloped
for
engines
;
and
the
terror-stricken
porter
opened
and
the
people
rushed
in
and
hammered
at
the
hall
doors
,
and
when
Rooke
ran
down
and
opened
,
“
Fire
!
”
was
the
word
that
met
him
from
a
score
of
eager
throats
and
glittering
eyes
.
“
Fire
!
Where
?
”
he
cried
.
“
Where
!
Why
,
you
are
on
fire
.
Blazing
!
”
He
ran
out
and
looked
up
at
the
tongues
of
flame
and
volleys
of
smoke
.
“
Shut
the
gate
,
”
he
roared
.
“
Call
the
police
.
Fire
!
fire
!
”
And
he
dashed
back
,
and
calling
to
the
other
keepers
to
unlock
all
the
doors
they
had
keys
of
,
ran
up
to
the
garrets
to
see
what
could
be
done
.
He
came
out
awe-stricken
at
what
he
saw
.
He
descended
hastily
to
the
third
floor
.
Now
the
third
floor
of
that
wing
was
occupied
principally
by
servants
.
In
fact
,
the
only
patients
at
that
time
were
Dodd
and
Alfred
.
Rooke
called
to
the
men
below
to
send
Hayes
up
to
No.
75
with
his
key
directly
;
he
then
ran
down
to
the
next
floor
—
of
which
he
had
keys
—
and
opened
all
the
doors
,
and
said
to
the
inmates
with
a
ghastly
attempt
at
cheerfulness
,
belied
by
his
shaking
voice
,
“
Get
up
,
gentlemen
;
there
is
a
ball
and
supper
going
on
below
.
”
He
was
afraid
to
utter
the
word
“
fire
”
to
them
.
The
other
keepers
were
as
rapid
,
each
on
his
beat
,
and
soon
the
more
rational
patients
took
the
alarm
and
were
persuaded
or
driven
out
half-dressed
into
the
yard
,
where
they
cowered
together
in
extremity
of
fear
;
for
the
fire
began
to
roar
overhead
like
a
lion
,
and
lighted
up
the
whole
interior
red
and
bright
.
All
was
screaming
and
confusion
;
and
then
came
a
struggle
to
get
the
incurable
out
from
the
basement
story
.
There
was
no
time
to
handcuff
them
.
The
keepers
trusted
to
the
terror
of
the
scene
to
cow
them
,
and
so
opened
the
doors
and
got
them
out
anyhow
.
Wild
,
weird
forms
,
with
glaring
eyes
and
matted
hair
,
leaped
out
and
ran
into
the
hall
,
and
laughed
,
and
danced
,
and
cursed
in
the
lurid
reflection
of
the
fires
above
.
Hell
seemed
discharging
demons
.
Men
recoiled
from
them
.
And
well
they
did
;
for
now
the
skylight
exploded
,
and
the
pieces
fell
tinkling
on
the
marble
hall
fast
as
hail
.
The
crowd
recoiled
and
ran
;
but
those
awful
figures
continued
their
gambols
.
One
picked
up
the
burning
glass
and
ground
it
in
his
hands
that
bled
directly
:
but
he
felt
neither
burn
nor
cut
.
The
keepers
rushed
in
to
withdraw
them
from
so
dangerous
a
place
:
all
but
one
obeyed
with
sudden
tameness
:
that
one
struggled
and
yelled
like
a
demon
.
In
the
midst
of
which
fearful
contest
came
a
sudden
thundering
at
a
door
on
the
third
floor
.
“
What
is
that
?
”
cried
Rooke
.
“
It
is
Mr.
Hardie
,
”
screamed
the
Robin
.
“
You
have
left
him
locked
in
.
”
“
I
told
Hayes
to
let
him
out
long
ago
.
”
“
But
Hayes
has
n't
got
the
key
.
You
've
got
it
.
”
“
No
,
no.
I
tell
you
Hayes
has
got
it
.
”
“
No
,
no
!
Murder
!
murder
!
They
are
dead
men
.
Run
for
Mrs.
Archbold
,
somebody
.
Run
!
Here
,
hammers
,
hammers
!
for
God
's
sake
,
come
and
help
me
,
break
the
door
.
Oh
,
Rooke
,
Rooke
!
”
“
As
I
'm
a
man
Hayes
has
got
the
key
,
”
cried
Rooke
,
stamping
on
the
ground
,
and
white
with
terror
.
By
this
time
Garrett
had
got
a
hammer
,
and
he
and
Wales
rushed
wildly
up
the
stairs
to
batter
in
the
strong
door
if
they
could
.
They
got
to
the
third
floor
,
but
with
difficulty
;
the
smoke
began
to
blind
them
and
choke
them
,
and
fiery
showers
fell
on
them
,
and
drove
them
back
smarting
and
choking
.
Garrett
sank
down
gasping
at
the
stair-foot
.
Wales
ran
into
the
yard
uttering
pitiful
cries
,
and
pointing
wildly
upwards
;
but
before
he
got
there
,
a
hand
had
broken
through
the
glass
of
a
window
up
in
the
third
floor
,
the
poor
white
hand
of
a
perishing
prisoner
,
and
clutched
the
framework
and
tore
at
it
.
At
this
hand
a
thousand
white
faces
were
now
upturned
amid
groans
of
pity
and
terror
,
such
as
only
multitudes
can
utter
.
Suddenly
those
anxious
faces
and
glistening
eyes
turned
like
one
,
for
an
attempt
,
wild
and
unintelligible
,
but
still
an
attempt
,
was
about
to
be
made
to
save
that
hand
and
its
owner
out
of
the
very
jaws
of
death
.
Now
amongst
the
spectators
was
one
whose
life
and
reason
were
at
stake
on
that
attempt
.
Mrs.
Dodd
was
hurrying
homeward
from
this
very
neighbourhood
when
the
fire
broke
out
.
Her
son
Edward
was
coming
at
nine
o'clock
to
tea
,
and
,
better
still
,
to
sleep
.
He
was
leaving
the
fire
brigade
.
It
had
disappointed
him
;
he
found
the
fire-escape
men
saved
the
lives
,
the
firemen
only
the
property
.
He
had
gone
into
the
business
earnestly
too
;
he
had
invented
a
thing
like
a
treble
pouch
hook
,
which
could
be
fastened
in
a
moment
to
the
end
of
a
rope
,
and
thrown
into
the
window
,
and
would
cling
to
the
bare
wall
,
if
there
was
nothing
better
,
and
enable
him
to
go
up
and
bring
life
down
.
But
he
had
never
got
a
chance
to
try
it
;
and
,
per
contra
,
he
was
on
the
engine
when
they
went
tearing
over
a
woman
and
broke
her
arm
and
collar-bone
in
the
Blackfriars
Road
;
and
also
when
they
went
tearing
over
their
own
fire-dog
,
and
crippled
him
.
All
this
seemed
out
of
character
,
and
shocked
Edward
;
and
then
his
mother
could
not
get
over
the
jacket
.
In
a
quarter
of
an
hour
he
was
to
take
off
the
obnoxious
jacket
for
ever
,
and
was
now
lounging
at
the
station
smoking
a
short
pipe
,
when
a
man
galloped
up
crying
“
Fire
!
”
“
All
right
!
”
said
Edward
,
giving
a
whiff
.
“
Where
?
”
“
Lunatic
Asylum
.
Drayton
House
.
”
Guess
how
long
before
the
horses
were
to
,
and
the
engine
tearing
at
a
gallop
down
the
road
,
and
the
firemen
shouting
“
Fire
!
fire
!
”
to
clear
the
way
,
and
Edward
's
voice
the
loudest
.
When
the
report
of
fire
swept
townward
past
Mrs.
Dodd
,
she
turned
,
and
saw
the
glow
.
“
Oh
dear
,
”
said
she
,
“
that
must
be
somewhere
near
Drayton
House
.
”
And
full
of
the
tender
fears
that
fill
such
bosoms
as
hers
for
those
they
love
,
she
could
not
go
home
till
she
had
ascertained
that
it
was
not
Drayton
House
.
Moreover
,
Edward
's
was
the
nearest
station
;
she
had
little
hope
now
of
seeing
him
to
tea
.
She
sighed
,
and
retraced
her
steps
,
and
made
timid
inquiries
,
but
could
gain
no
clear
information
.
Presently
she
heard
galloping
behind
her
,
and
the
fireman
's
wild
sharp
cry
of
fire
.
An
engine
drawn
by
two
powerful
brown
horses
came
furiously
,
all
on
fire
itself
with
red
paint
and
polished
steel
gleaming
in
the
lights
;
helmeted
men
clustered
on
it
,
and
out
of
one
of
these
helmets
looked
a
face
like
a
fighting
lion
's
,
the
eyes
so
dilated
,
the
countenance
in
such
towering
excitement
,
the
figure
half
rising
from
his
seat
as
though
galloping
was
too
slow
and
he
wanted
to
fly
.
It
was
Edward
.
Mother
and
son
caught
sight
of
one
another
as
the
engine
thundered
by
,
and
he
gave
her
a
solemn
ardent
look
,
and
pointed
towards
the
fire
;
by
that
burning
look
and
eloquent
gesture
she
knew
it
was
something
more
than
a
common
fire
.
She
trembled
and
could
not
move
.
But
this
temporary
weakness
was
followed
by
an
influx
of
wild
vigour
;
she
forgot
her
forty-two
years
,
and
flew
to
hover
round
the
fire
as
the
hen
round
water
.
Unfortunately
she
was
too
late
to
get
any
nearer
than
the
road
outside
the
gates
,
the
crowd
was
so
dense
.
And
,
while
her
pale
face
and
anxious
eyes
,
the
eyes
of
a
wife
and
a
mother
,
were
bent
on
that
awful
fire
,
the
human
tide
flowed
swiftly
up
behind
her
,
and
there
she
was
wedged
in
.
She
was
allowed
her
foot
of
ground
to
stand
and
look
like
the
rest
—
no
more
.
Mere
unit
in
that
mass
of
panting
humanity
,
hers
was
one
of
the
thousands
of
upturned
faces
lurid
in
the
light
of
the
now
blazing
roof
.
She
saw
with
thousands
the
hand
break
the
window
and
clutch
the
frame
;
she
gasped
with
the
crowd
at
that
terrible
and
piteous
sight
,
and
her
bosom
panted
for
her
fellow-creature
in
sore
peril
.
But
what
is
this
?
The
mob
inside
utter
a
great
roar
of
hope
;
the
crowd
outside
strain
every
eye
.
A
gleaming
helmet
overtops
the
outer
wall
.
It
is
a
fireman
mounting
the
great
elm-tree
in
the
madhouse
yard
.
The
crowd
inside
burst
in
a
cheer
.
He
had
a
rope
round
his
loins
;
his
face
was
to
the
tree
.
He
mounted
and
mounted
like
a
cat
;
higher
,
and
higher
,
and
higher
,
till
he
reached
a
branch
about
twelve
feet
above
the
window
and
as
many
distant
from
it
laterally
;
the
crowd
cheered
him
lustily
.
But
Mrs.
Dodd
,
half
distracted
with
terror
,
implored
them
not
to
encourage
him
.
“
It
is
my
child
!
”
she
cried
despairingly
;
“
my
poor
reckless
darling
!
Come
down
,
Edward
;
for
your
poor
mother
's
sake
,
come
down
.
”
“
Dear
heart
,
”
said
a
woman
,
“
it
is
the
lady
's
son
.
Poor
thing
!
”
“
Stand
on
my
knee
,
ma'am
,
”
said
a
coal-heaver
.
“
Oh
no
,
sir
,
no.
I
could
not
look
at
him
for
the
world
.
I
can
only
pray
for
him
.
Good
people
,
pray
for
us
!
”
And
she
covered
her
face
,
and
prayed
and
trembled
and
sobbed
hysterically
.
A
few
yards
behind
was
another
woman
,
who
had
arrived
later
,
yet
like
her
was
wedged
immovable
.
This
woman
was
more
terror-stricken
than
Mrs.
Dodd
;
and
well
she
might
;
for
she
knew
who
was
behind
that
fatal
window
:
the
woman
's
name
was
Edith
Archbold
.
The
flames
were
now
leaping
through
the
roof
,
and
surging
up
towards
heaven
in
waves
of
fire
six
feet
high
.
Edward
,
scorched
and
half
blinded
,
managed
to
fasten
his
rope
to
the
bough
,
and
,
calculating
the
distances
vertical
and
lateral
he
had
to
deal
with
,
took
up
rope
accordingly
,
and
launched
himself
into
the
air
.
The
crowd
drew
their
breath
so
hard
it
sounded
like
a
murmur
.
To
their
horror
he
missed
the
window
,
and
went
swinging
back
.
There
was
a
cry
of
dismay
.
But
Edward
had
never
hoped
to
leap
into
the
window
;
he
went
swinging
by
the
rope
back
to
the
main
stem
of
the
tree
,
gave
it
a
fierce
spang
with
his
feet
,
and
by
this
means
and
a
powerful
gesture
of
his
herculean
loins
got
an
inch
nearer
the
window
:
back
again
,
and
then
the
same
game
;
and
so
he
went
swinging
to
and
fro
over
a
wider
and
wider
space
;
and
,
by
letting
out
an
inch
of
cord
each
swing
,
his
flying
feet
came
above
the
window-ledge
,
then
a
little
higher
,
then
higher
still
;
and
now
,
oh
sight
strange
and
glorious
—
as
this
helmeted
hero
,
with
lips
clenched
and
great
eyes
that
stared
unflinchingly
at
the
surging
flames
,
and
gleamed
supernaturally
with
inward
and
outward
fire
,
swang
to
and
fro
on
his
frail
support
still
making
for
the
window
—
the
heads
of
all
the
hoping
,
fearing
,
admiring
,
panting
crowd
went
surging
and
waving
to
and
fro
beneath
;
so
did
not
their
hearts
only
but
their
agitated
bodies
follow
the
course
of
his
body
,
as
it
rushed
to
and
fro
faster
and
faster
through
the
hot
air
starred
with
snow-flakes
,
and
hail
,
of
fire
.
And
those
his
fellow-men
for
whom
the
brave
fireman
made
this
supernatural
effort
,
did
they
know
their
desperate
condition
?
Were
they
still
alive
?
One
little
hour
ago
Alfred
sat
on
the
bed
,
full
of
hope
.
Every
minute
he
expected
to
hear
the
Robin
put
a
key
into
the
door
.
He
was
all
ready
,
and
his
money
in
his
pocket
.
Alas
!
his
liberator
came
not
;
some
screw
loose
again
.
Presently
he
was
conscious
of
a
great
commotion
in
the
house
.
Feet
ran
up
and
down
.
Then
came
a
smell
of
burning
.
The
elm-tree
outside
was
illuminated
.
He
was
glad
at
first
;
he
had
a
spite
against
the
place
.
But
soon
he
became
alarmed
,
and
hammered
at
the
door
and
tried
to
force
it
.
Impossible
.
“
Fire
!
”
rang
from
men
's
voices
.
Fire
crackled
above
his
head
;
he
ran
about
the
room
like
a
wild
creature
;
he
sprang
up
at
the
window
and
dashed
his
hand
through
,
but
fell
back
.
He
sprang
again
and
got
his
hand
on
some
of
the
lighter
woodwork
;
he
drew
himself
up
nearly
to
the
window
,
and
then
the
wood
gave
way
and
he
fell
to
the
ground
,
and
striking
the
back
of
his
head
,
nearly
stunned
himself
;
the
flames
roared
fearfully
now
;
and
at
this
David
,
who
had
hitherto
sat
unconcerned
,
started
up
,
and
in
a
stentorian
voice
issued
order
upon
order
to
furl
every
rag
of
sail
and
bring
the
ship
to
the
wind
.
He
thought
it
was
a
tempest
.
“
Oh
hush
!
hush
!
”
cried
Alfred
in
vain
.
.
A
beam
fell
from
the
roof
to
the
floor
,
precursor
of
the
rest
.
On
this
David
thought
the
ship
was
ashore
,
and
shouted
a
fresh
set
of
orders
proper
to
the
occasion
,
so
terribly
alike
are
the
angry
voices
of
the
sister-elements
.
But
Alfred
implored
him
,
and
got
him
to
kneel
down
with
him
,
and
held
his
hand
,
and
prayed
.
And
,
even
while
they
kneeled
and
Alfred
prayed
,
Death
and
Life
met
and
fought
for
them
.
Under
the
door
,
tight
as
it
was
,
and
through
the
keyhole
,
struggled
a
hot
stifling
smoke
,
merciful
destroyer
running
before
fire
;
and
the
shadow
of
a
gigantic
figure
began
to
flicker
in
from
the
outside
,
and
to
come
and
go
upon
the
wall
.
Alfred
did
not
know
what
that
was
,
but
it
gave
him
a
vague
hope
:
he
prayed
aloud
as
men
pray
only
for
their
bodies
.
(
The
crowd
heard
him
and
hushed
itself
breathless
.
)
The
smoke
penetrated
faster
,
blinding
and
stifling
;
the
giant
shadow
came
and
went
.
But
now
the
greater
part
of
the
roof
fell
in
with
an
awful
report
;
the
blazing
timbers
thundered
down
to
the
basement
with
endless
clatter
of
red-hot
tiles
;
the
walls
quivered
,
and
the
building
belched
skyward
a
thousand
jets
of
fire
like
a
bouquet
of
rockets
:
and
then
a
cloud
of
smoke
.
Alfred
gave
up
all
hope
,
and
prepared
to
die
.
Crash
!
as
if
discharged
from
a
cannon
,
came
bursting
through
the
window
,
with
the
roar
of
an
applauding
multitude
and
a
mother
's
unheeded
scream
,
a
helmeted
figure
,
rope
in
hand
,
and
alighted
erect
and
commanding
on
the
floor
amidst
a
shower
of
splinters
and
tinkling
glass
.
“
Up
,
men
,
for
your
lives
,
”
roared
this
fire-warrior
,
clutching
them
hard
,
and
dragged
them
both
up
to
their
feet
by
one
prodigious
gesture
:
all
three
faces
came
together
and
shone
in
the
lurid
light
;
and
he
knew
his
father
and
“
the
Wretch
,
”
and
“
the
Wretch
”
knew
him
.
“
Oh
!
”
“
Ah
!
”
passed
like
pistol
shots
;
but
not
a
word
:
even
this
strange
meeting
went
for
little
,
so
awful
was
the
moment
,
so
great
are
Death
and
Fire
.
Edward
clawed
his
rope
to
the
bed
;
up
to
the
window
by
it
,
dropped
his
line
to
fireman
Jackson
planted
express
below
,
and
in
another
moment
was
hauling
up
a
rope
ladder
:
this
he
attached
,
and
getting
on
it
and
holding
his
own
rope
by
way
of
banister
,
cried
,
“
Now
,
men
,
quick
,
for
your
lives
.
”
But
poor
David
called
that
deserting
the
ship
,
and
demurred
,
till
Alfred
assured
him
the
captain
had
ordered
it
.
He
then
submitted
directly
,
touched
his
forelock
to
Edward
,
whom
he
took
for
that
officer
,
and
went
down
the
ladder
;
Alfred
followed
.
Now
the
moment
those
two
figures
emerged
from
the
burning
pile
,
Mrs.
Dodd
,
already
half
dead
with
terror
for
her
son
,
saw
and
knew
her
husband
:
for
all
about
him
it
was
as
light
as
day
.
What
terror
!
what
joy
!
what
gratitude
!
what
pride
!
what
a
tempest
of
emotions
!
But
her
fears
were
not
ended
:
Edward
,
not
to
overweight
the
ladder
,
went
dangling
by
his
hands
along
the
rope
towards
the
tree
.
And
his
mother
's
eyes
stared
fearfully
from
him
to
the
other
,
and
her
heart
hung
trembling
on
her
husband
descending
cautiously
,
and
then
on
his
preserver
,
her
son
,
who
was
dangling
along
by
the
hands
on
that
frail
support
.
The
mob
cheered
him
royally
,
but
she
screamed
and
hid
her
face
again
.
At
last
both
her
darlings
were
safe
,
and
then
the
lusty
cheers
made
her
thrill
with
pride
and
joy
,
till
all
of
a
sudden
they
seemed
to
die
away
,
and
the
terrible
fire
to
go
out
;
and
the
sore-tried
wife
and
mother
drooped
her
head
and
swooned
away
,
wedged
in
and
kept
from
falling
by
the
crowd
.
Inside
,
the
mob
parted
and
made
two
rushes
,
one
at
the
rescued
men
,
one
at
the
gallant
fireman
.
Alfred
and
David
were
overpowered
with
curiosity
and
sympathy
.
They
had
to
shake
a
hundred
honest
hands
,
and
others
still
pressing
on
hurried
them
nearly
off
their
feet
.
“
Gently
,
good
friends
;
do
n't
part
us
,
”
said
Alfred
.
“
He
is
the
keeper
,
”
said
one
of
the
crowd
.
“
Yes
,
I
'm
his
keeper
:
and
I
want
to
get
him
quietly
away
.
This
excitement
will
do
him
harm
else
;
good
friends
,
help
me
out
by
that
door
.
”
“
All
right
,
”
was
the
cry
,
and
they
rushed
with
him
to
the
back
door
.
Rooke
,
who
was
about
twenty
yards
off
saw
and
suspected
this
movement
.
He
fought
his
way
and
struggled
after
Alfred
in
silence
.
Presently
,
to
his
surprise
,
Alfred
unlocked
the
door
and
whipped
out
with
David
,
leaving
the
door
open
.
Rooke
shouted
and
halloaed
:
“
Stop
him
!
he
is
escaping
,
”
and
struggled
madly
to
the
door
.
Now
another
crowd
had
been
waiting
in
the
meadows
;
seeing
the
door
open
they
rushed
in
and
the
doorway
was
jammed
directly
.
In
the
confusion
Alfred
drew
David
along
the
side
of
the
wall
;
told
him
to
stay
quiet
,
bolted
behind
an
outhouse
,
and
then
ran
across
country
for
the
bare
life
.
To
his
horror
David
followed
him
,
and
with
a
madman
's
agility
soon
caught
him
.
He
snorted
like
a
spirited
horse
,
and
shouted
cheerily
,
“
Go
ahead
,
messmate
;
I
smell
blue
water
.
”
“
Come
on
,
then
,
”
cried
Alfred
,
half
mad
himself
with
excitement
,
and
the
pair
ran
furiously
,
and
dashed
through
hedges
and
ditches
,
torn
,
bleeding
,
splashed
,
triumphant
;
behind
them
the
burning
madhouse
,
above
them
the
spangled
sky
,
the
fresh
free
air
of
liberty
blowing
in
their
nostrils
,
and
rushing
past
their
ears
.
Alfred
's
chest
expanded
,
he
laughed
for
joy
,
he
sang
for
joy
,
he
leaped
as
he
went
;
nor
did
he
care
where
he
went
.
David
took
the
command
,
and
kept
snuffing
the
air
,
and
shaping
his
course
for
blue
water
.
And
so
they
rushed
along
the
livelong
night
.
Free
.
CHAPTER
XLIV
A
REPORT
came
round
that
the
asylum
was
open
in
the
rear
.
A
rush
was
made
thither
from
the
front
:
and
this
thinned
the
crowd
considerably
;
so
then
Mrs.
Dodd
was
got
out
by
the
help
of
some
humane
persons
,
and
carried
into
the
nearest
house
,
more
dead
than
alive
.
There
she
found
Mrs.
Archbold
in
a
pitiable
state
.
That
lady
had
been
looking
on
the
fire
,
with
the
key
in
her
pocket
,
by
taking
which
she
was
like
to
be
a
murderess
:
her
terror
and
remorse
were
distracting
,
and
the
revulsion
had
thrown
her
into
violent
hysterics
.
Mrs.
Dodd
plucked
up
a
little
strength
,
and
characteristically
enough
tottered
to
her
assistance
,
and
called
for
the
best
remedies
,
and
then
took
her
hand
and
pressed
it
,
and
whispered
soothingly
that
both
were
now
safe
,
meaning
David
and
Edward
.
Mrs.
Archbold
thought
she
meant
Alfred
and
David
:
this
new
shock
was
as
good
for
her
as
cold
water
:
she
became
quieter
,
and
presently
gulped
out
,
“
You
saw
them
?
You
knew
them
(
ump
)
all
that
way
off
?
”
“
Knew
them
?
”
said
Mrs.
Dodd
;
“
why
one
was
my
husband
,
and
the
other
my
son
.
”
Mrs.
Archbold
gave
a
sigh
of
relief
.
“
Yes
,
madam
,
”
continued
Mrs.
Dodd
,
“
the
young
fireman
,
who
went
and
saved
my
husband
,
was
my
own
son
,
my
Edward
;
my
hero
;
oh
,
I
am
a
happy
wife
,
a
proud
mother
.
”
She
could
say
no
more
for
tears
of
joy
,
and
while
she
wept
deliciously
,
Mrs.
Archbold
cried
too
,
and
so
invigorated
and
refreshed
her
cunning
,
and
presently
she
perked
up
and
told
Mrs.
Dodd
boldly
that
Edward
had
been
seeking
her
,
and
was
gone
home
;
she
had
better
follow
him
,
or
he
would
be
anxious
.
“
But
my
poor
husband
!
”
objected
Mrs.
Dodd
.
“
He
is
safe
,
”
said
the
other
;
“
I
saw
him
(
ump
)
with
an
attendant
.
”
“
Ah
,
”
said
Mrs.
Dodd
,
with
meaning
,
“
that
other
my
son
rescued
was
an
attendant
,
was
he
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
(
Ump
.
)
She
then
promised
to
take
David
under
her
especial
care
,
and
Mrs.
Dodd
consented
,
though
reluctantly
,
to
go
home
.
To
her
surprise
Edward
had
not
yet
arrived
,
and
Julia
was
sitting
up
,
very
anxious
;
and
flew
at
her
with
a
gurgle
,
and
kissed
her
eagerly
,
and
then
,
drawing
back
her
head
,
searched
the
maternal
eyes
for
what
was
the
matter
.
“
Ah
,
you
may
well
look
,
”
said
Mrs.
Dodd
.
“
Oh
,
my
child
!
what
a
night
this
has
been
;
”
and
she
sank
into
a
chair
,
and
held
up
her
arms
.
Julia
settled
down
in
them
directly
,
and
in
that
position
Mrs.
Dodd
told
all
the
night
's
work
,
told
it
under
a
running
accompaniment
of
sighs
and
kisses
,
and
ejaculations
,
and
“
dear
mammas
”
and
“
poor
mammas
,
”
and
bursts
of
sympathy
,
astonishment
,
pity
and
wonder
.
Thus
embellished
and
interrupted
,
the
strange
tale
was
hardly
ended
,
when
a
manly
step
came
up
the
stairs
,
and
both
ladies
pinched
each
other
,
and
were
still
as
mice
,
and
in
walked
a
fireman
with
a
wet
livery
,
and
a
face
smirched
with
smoke
.
Julia
flew
at
him
with
a
gurgle
of
the
first
degree
,
and
threw
her
arms
round
his
neck
,
and
kissed
both
his
blackened
cheeks
again
and
again
,
crying
,
“
Oh
my
own
,
my
precious
,
my
sweet
,
brave
darling
,
kiss
me
,
kiss
me
,
kiss
me
,
you
are
a
hero
,
a
Christian
hero
,
that
saves
life
,
not
takes
it
—
”
Mrs.
Dodd
checked
her
impetuous
career
by
asking
piteously
if
his
mother
was
not
to
have
him
.
On
this
,
Julia
drew
him
along
by
the
hand
,
and
sank
with
him
at
Mrs.
Dodd
's
knees
,
and
she
held
him
at
arm
's
length
and
gazed
at
him
,
and
then
drew
him
close
and
enfolded
him
,
and
thanked
God
for
him
;
and
then
they
both
embraced
him
at
once
,
and
interwove
him
Heaven
knows
how
,
and
poured
the
wealth
of
their
womanly
hearts
out
on
him
in
a
torrent
,
and
nearly
made
him
snivel
.
But
presently
something
in
his
face
struck
Mrs.
Dodd
accustomed
to
read
her
children
.
“
Is
there
anything
the
matter
,
love
?
”
she
inquired
anxiously
.
He
looked
down
and
said
,
“
I
am
dead
sleepy
,
mamma
,
for
one
thing
.
”
“
Of
course
he
is
,
poor
child
,
”
said
Julia
,
doing
the
submaternal
;
“
wait
till
I
see
everything
is
comfortable
,
”
and
she
flew
off
,
turned
suddenly
at
the
door
with
“
Oh
,
you
darling
!
”
and
up
to
his
bedroom
and
put
more
coals
on
his
fire
,
and
took
a
swift
housewifely
look
all
round
.
Mrs.
Dodd
seized
the
opportunity
.
“
Edward
,
there
is
something
amiss
.
”
“
And
no
mistake
,
”
said
he
drily
.
“
But
I
thought
if
I
told
you
before
her
you
might
scold
me
.
”
“
Scold
you
,
love
?
Never
.
Hush
!
I
'll
come
to
your
room
by-and-by
.
”
Soon
after
this
they
all
bade
each
other
good
night
;
and
presently
Mrs.
Dodd
came
and
tapped
softly
at
her
son
's
door
,
and
found
him
with
his
vest
and
coat
off
,
and
his
helmet
standing
on
the
table
reflecting
a
red
coal
;
he
was
seated
by
the
fire
in
a
brown
study
,
smoking
.
He
apologised
,
and
offered
to
throw
the
weed
away
.
“
No
,
no
,
”
said
she
,
suppressing
a
cough
,
“
not
if
it
does
you
good
.
”
“
Well
,
mother
,
when
you
are
in
a
fix
,
smoke
is
a
soother
,
you
know
,
and
I
'm
in
a
regular
fix
.
”
“
A
fix
,
”
sighed
Mrs.
Dodd
resignedly
,
and
waited
patiently
all
ears
.
“
Mamma
,
”
said
the
fire-warrior
,
becoming
speculative
under
the
dreamy
influence
of
the
weed
,
“
I
wonder
whether
such
a
muddle
ever
was
before
.
When
a
man
is
fighting
with
fire
,
what
with
the
heat
and
what
with
the
excitement
,
his
pulse
is
at
a
hundred
and
sixty
,
and
his
brain
all
in
a
whirl
,
and
he
scarce
knows
what
he
is
doing
till
after
it
is
done
.
But
I
've
been
thinking
of
it
all
since
.
(
Puff
.
)
There
was
my
poor
little
mamma
in
the
mob
;
I
double
myself
up
for
my
spring
,
and
I
go
at
the
window
,
and
through
it
;
now
,
on
this
side
of
it
I
hear
my
mother
cry
,
'
Edward
come
down
;
'
on
the
other
side
I
fall
on
two
men
perishing
in
an
oven
;
one
is
my
own
father
,
and
the
other
is
,
who
do
you
think
?
'
The
Wretch
.
'
”
Mrs.
Dodd
held
up
her
hands
in
mute
amazement
.
“
I
had
promised
to
break
every
bone
in
his
skin
at
our
first
meeting
;
and
I
kept
my
promise
by
saving
his
skin
and
bones
,
and
life
and
all
.
”
(
Puff
.
)
Mrs.
Dodd
groaned
aloud
.
“
I
thought
it
was
he
,
”
she
said
faintly
.
“
That
tall
figure
,
that
haughty
grace
!
But
Mrs.
Archbold
told
me
positively
it
was
an
attendant
.
”
“
Then
she
told
you
a
cracker
.
It
was
not
an
attendant
,
but
a
madman
,
and
that
madman
was
Alfred
Hardie
,
upon
my
soul
!
Our
Julia
's
missing
bridegroom
.
”
He
smoked
on
in
profound
silence
waiting
for
her
to
speak
.
But
she
lay
back
in
her
chair
mute
and
all
relaxed
,
as
if
the
news
had
knocked
her
down
.
“
Come
,
now
,
”
said
Edward
at
last
;
“
what
is
to
be
done
?
May
I
tell
Julia
?
that
is
the
question
.
”
“
Not
for
the
world
,
”
said
Mrs.
Dodd
,
shocked
into
energy
.
“
Would
you
blight
her
young
life
for
ever
,
as
mine
is
blighted
?
”
She
then
assured
him
that
,
if
Alfred
's
sad
state
came
to
Julia
's
ears
,
all
her
love
for
him
would
revive
,
and
she
would
break
with
Mr.
Hurd
,
and
indeed
never
marry
all
her
life
.
“
I
see
no
end
to
her
misery
,
”
continued
Mrs.
Dodd
,
with
a
deep
sigh
;
“
for
she
is
full
of
courage
;
she
would
not
shrink
from
a
madhouse
(
why
she
visits
lazar-houses
every
day
)
;
she
would
be
always
going
to
see
her
Alfred
,
and
so
nurse
her
pity
and
her
unhappy
love
.
No
,
no
;
let
me
be
a
widow
with
a
living
husband
,
if
it
is
God
's
will
:
I
have
had
my
happy
days
.
But
my
child
she
shall
not
be
so
withered
in
the
flower
of
her
days
for
any
man
that
ever
breathed
;
she
shall
not
,
I
say
.
”
The
mother
could
utter
no
more
for
emotion
.
“
Well
,
”
said
Edward
,
“
you
know
best
.
I
generally
make
a
mess
of
it
when
I
disobey
you
.
But
concealments
are
bad
things
too
.
We
used
to
go
with
our
bosoms
open
.
Ah
!
”
(
Puff
.
)
“
Edward
,
”
said
Mrs.
Dodd
,
after
some
consideration
,
“
the
best
thing
is
to
marry
her
to
Mr.
Hurd
at
once
.
He
has
spoken
to
me
for
her
,
and
I
sounded
her
.
”
“
Has
he
?
Well
,
and
what
did
she
say
?
”
“
She
said
she
would
rather
not
marry
at
all
,
but
live
and
die
with
me
.
Then
I
pressed
her
a
little
,
you
know
.
Then
she
did
say
she
could
never
marry
any
but
a
clergyman
,
now
she
had
lost
her
poor
Alfred
.
And
then
I
told
her
I
thought
Mr.
Hurd
could
make
her
happy
,
and
she
would
make
me
happy
if
she
could
esteem
him
;
and
marry
him
.
”
“
Well
,
mamma
,
and
what
then
?
”
“
Why
then
,
my
poor
child
gave
me
a
look
that
haunts
me
still
—
a
look
of
unutterable
love
,
and
reproach
,
and
resignation
,
and
despair
,
and
burst
out
crying
so
piteously
I
could
say
no
more
.
Oh
!
oh
!
oh
!
oh
!
”
“
Do
n't
you
cry
,
mammy
dear
,
”
said
Edward
.
“
Ah
,
I
remember
when
a
tear
was
a
wonder
in
our
house
.
”
And
the
fire-warrior
sucked
at
his
cigar
,
to
stop
a
sigh
.
“
And
n
—
now
n
—
ot
a
d
—
day
without
them
,
”
sighed
Mrs.
Dodd
“
But
you
have
cost
me
none
,
my
precious
boy
.
”
“
I
'm
waiting
my
time
.
(
Puff
.
)
Mamma
,
take
my
advice
;
do
n't
you
fidget
so
.
Let
things
alone
.
Why
hurry
her
into
marrying
Mr.
Hurd
or
anybody
?
Look
here
;
I
'll
keep
dark
to
please
you
,
if
you
'll
keep
quiet
to
please
me
.
”
At
breakfast
time
came
a
messenger
with
a
line
from
Mrs.
Archbold
,
to
say
that
David
had
escaped
