the law and the lady-第15章

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view　of　the　matter　dawned　on　me。　What　a　wrong　I　had　done　to　them
both　in　my　thoughts！　I　turned　the　photograph；　sadly　and
penitently；　to　examine　the　portraits　again　with　a　kinder　and
truer　appreciation　of　them。

I　naturally　looked　now　for　a　family　likeness　between　the　two
faces。　There　was　no　family　likeness；　on　the　contrary；　they　were
as　unlike　each　other　in　form　and　expression　as　faces　could　be。
_Was_　she　his　sister；　after　all？　I　looked　at　her　hands；　as
represented　in　the　portrait。　Her　right　hand　was　clasped　by
Eustace；　her　left　hand　lay　on　her　lap。　On　the　third　finger；
distinctly　visible；　there　was　a　wedding…ring。　Were　any　of　my
husband's　sisters　married？　I　had　myself　asked　him　the　question
when　he　mentioned　them　to　me；　and　I　perfectly　remembered　that　he
had　replie　d　in　the　negative。

Was　it　possible　that　my　first　jealous　instinct　had　led　me　to　the
right　conclusion　after　all？　If　it　had；　what　did　the　association
of　the　three　initial　letters　mean？　What　did　the　wedding…ring
mean？　Good　Heavens！　was　I　looking　at　the　portrait　of　a　rival　in
my　husband's　affectionsand　was　that　rival　his　Wife？

I　threw　the　photograph　from　me　with　a　cry　of　horror。　For　one
terrible　moment　I　felt　as　if　my　reason　was　giving　way。　I　don't
know　what　would　have　happened；　or　what　I　should　have　done　next；
if　my　love　for　Eustace　had　not　taken　the　uppermost　place　among
the　contending　emotions　that　tortured　me。　That　faithful　love
steadied　my　brain。　That　faithful　love　roused　the　reviving
influences　of　my　better　and　nobler　sense。　Was　the　man　whom　I　had
enshrined　in　my　heart　of　hearts　capable　of　such　base　wickedness
as　the　bare　idea　of　his　marriage　to　another　woman　implied？　No！
Mine　was　the　baseness；　mine　the　wickedness；　in　having　even　for　a
moment　thought　it　of　him！

I　picked　up　the　detestable　photograph　from　the　floor；　and　put　it
back　in　the　book。　I　hastily　closed　the　cupboard　door；　fetched　the
library　ladder；　and　set　it　against　the　book…case。　My　one　idea　now
was　the　idea　of　taking　refuge　in　employment　of　any　sort　from　my
own　thoughts。　I　felt　the　hateful　suspicion　that　had　degraded　me
coming　back　again　in　spite　of　my　efforts　to　repel　it。　The　books！
the　books！　my　only　hope　was　to　absorb　myself；　body　and　soul；　in
the　books。

I　had　one　foot　on　the　ladder；　when　I　heard　the　door　of　the　room
openthe　door　which　communicated　with　the　hall。

I　looked　around；　expecting　to　see　the　Major。　I　saw　instead　the
Major's　future　prima　donna　standing　just　inside　the　door；　with
her　round　eyes　steadily　fixed　on　me。

〃I　can　stand　a　good　deal；〃　the　girl　began；　coolly；　〃but　I　can't
stand　_this_　any　longer？〃

〃What　is　it　that　you　can't　stand　any　longer？〃　I　asked。

〃If　you　have　been　here　a　minute；　you　have　been　here　two　good
hours；〃　she　went　on。　〃All　by　yourself　in　the　Major's　study。　I　am
of　a　jealous　dispositionI　am。　And　I　want　to　know　what　it
means。〃　She　advanced　a　few　steps　nearer　to　me；　with　a　heightening
color　and　a　threatening　look。　〃Is　he　going　to　bring　_you_　out　on
the　stage？〃　she　asked；　sharply。

〃Certainly　not。〃

〃He　ain't　in　love　with　you；　is　he？〃

Under　other　circumstances　I　might　have　told　her　to　leave　the
room。　In　my　position　at　that　critical　moment　the　mere　presence　of
a　human　creature　was　a　positive　relief　to　me。　Even　this　girl；
with　her　coarse　questions　and　her　uncultivated　manners；　was　a
welcome　intruder　on　my　solitude：　she　offered　me　a　refuge　from
myself。

〃Your　question　is　not　very　civilly　put；〃　I　said。　〃However；　I
excuse　you。　You　are　probably　not　aware　that　I　am　a　married
woman。〃

〃What　has　that　got　to　do　with　it？〃　she　retorted。　〃Married　or
single；　it's　all　one　to　the　Major。　That　brazen…faced　hussy　who
calls　herself　Lady　Clarinda　is　married；　and　she　sends　him
nosegays　three　times　a　week！　Not　that　I　care；　mind　you；　about　the
old　fool。　But　I've　lost　my　situation　at　the　railway；　and　I've　got
my　own　interests　to　look　after；　and　I　don't　know　what　may　happen
if　I　let　other　women　come　between　him　and　me。　That's　where　the
shoe　pinches；　don't　you　see？　I'm　not　easy　in　my　mind　when　I　see
him　leaving　you　mistress　here　to　do　just　what　you　like。　No
offense！　I　speak　outI　do。　I　want　to　know　what　you　are　about　all
by　yourself　in　this　room？　How　did　you　pick　up　with　the　Major？　I
never　heard　him　speak　of　you　before　to…day。〃

Under　all　the　surface　selfishness　and　coarseness　of　this　strange
girl　there　was　a　certain　frankness　and　freedom　which　pleaded　in
her　favorto　my　mind；　at　any　rate。　I　answered　frankly　and　freely
on　my　side。

〃Major　Fitz…David　is　an　old　friend　of　my　husband's；〃　I　said；　〃and
he　is　kind　to　me　for　my　husband's　sake。　He　has　given　me
permission　to　look　in　this　room〃

I　stopped；　at　a　loss　how　to　describe　my　employment　in　terms　which
should　tell　her　nothing；　and　which　should　at　the　same　time
successfully　set　her　distrust　of　me　at　rest。

〃To　look　about　in　this　roomfor　what？〃　she　asked。　Her　eye　fell
on　the　library　ladder；　beside　which　I　was　still　standing。　〃For　a
book？〃　she　resumed。

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　taking　the　hint。　〃For　a　book。〃

〃Haven't　you　found　it　yet？〃

〃No。〃

She　looked　hard　at　me；　undisguisedly　considering　with　herself
whether　I　were　or　were　not　speaking　the　truth。

〃You　seem　to　be　a　good　sort；〃　she　said；　making　up　her　mind　at
last。　〃There's　nothing　stuck…up　about　you。　I'll　help　you　if　I
can。　I　have　rummaged　among　the　books　here　over　and　over　again；
and　I　know　more　about　them　than　you　do。　What　book　do　you　want？〃

As　she　put　that　awkward　question　she　noticed　for　the　first　time
Lady　Clarinda's　nosegay　lying　on　the　side…table　where　the　Major
had　left　it。　Instantly　forgetting　me　and　my　book；　this　curious
girl　pounced　like　a　fury　on　the　flowers；　and　actually　trampled
them　under　her　feet！

〃There！〃　she　cried。　〃If　I　had　Lady　Clarinda　here　I'd　serve　her　in
the　same　way。〃

〃What　will　the　Major　say？〃　I　asked。

〃What　do　I　care？　Do　you　suppose　I'm　afraid　of　_him？_　Only　last
week　I　broke　one　of　his　fine　gimcracks　up　there；　and　all　through
Lady　Clarinda　and　her　flowers！〃

She　pointed　to　the　top　of　the　book…caseto　the　empty　space　on　it
close　by　the　window。　My　heart　gave　a　sudden　bound　as　my　eyes　took
the　direction　indicated　by　her　finger。　_She_　had　broken　the　vase！
Was　the　way　to　discovery　about　to　reveal　itself　to　me　through
this　girl？　Not　a　word　would　pass　my　lips；　I　could　only　look　at
her。

〃Yes！〃　she　said。　〃The　thing　stood　there。　He　knows　how　I　hate　her
flowers；　and　he　put　her　nosegay　in　the　vase　out　of　my　way。　There
was　a　woman's　face　painted　on　the　china；　and　he　told　me　it　was
the　living　image　of　_her_　face。　It　was　no　more　like　her　than　I
am。　I　was　in　such　a　rage　that　I　up　with　the　book　I　was　reading　at
the　time　and　shied　it　at　the　painted　face。　Over　the　vase　went；
bless　your　heart；　crash　to　the　floor。　Stop　a　bit！　I　wonder
whether　_that's_　the　book　you　have　been　looking　after？　Are　you
like　me？　Do　you　like　reading　Trials？〃

Trials？　Had　I　heard　her　aright？　Yes：　she　had　said　Trials。

I　answered　by　an　affirmative　motion　of　my　head。　I　was　still
speechless。　The　girl　sauntered　in　her　cool　way　to　the　fire…place；
and；　taking　up　the　tongs；　returned　with　them　to　the　book…case。

〃Here's　where　the　book　fell；〃　she　said〃in　the　space　between　the
book…case　and　the　wall。　I'll　have　it　out　in　no　time。〃

I　waited　without　moving　a　muscle；　without　uttering　a　word。

She　approached　me　with　the　tongs　in　one　hand　and　with　a　plainly
bound　volume　in　the　other。

〃Is　that　the　book？〃　she　said。　〃Open　it；　and　see。〃

I　took　the　book　from　her。

〃It　is　tremendously　interesting；〃　she　went　on。　〃I've　read　it
twice　overI　have。　Mind　you；　_I_　believe　he　did　it；　after　all。〃

Did　it？　Did　what？　What　was　she　talking　about？　I　tried　to　put　the
question　to　her。　I　struggledquite　vainlyto　say　only　these
words：　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃

She　seemed　to　lose　all　patience　with　me。　She　snatched　the　book
out　of　my　hand；　and　opened　it　before　me　on　the　table　by　which　we
were　standing　side　by　side。

〃I　declare；　you're　as　helpless　as　a　baby！〃　she　said；
contemptuously。　〃There！　_Is_　that　the　book？〃

I　read　the　first　lines　on　the　title…page

A　COMPLETE　REPORT　OF　THE　TRIAL　OF　EUSTACE　MACALLAN。



I　stopped　and　looked　up　at　her。　She　started　back　from　me　with　a
scream　of　terror。　I　looked　down　again　at　the　title…page；　and　read
the　next　lines


FOR　THE　ALLEGED　POISONING　OF　HIS　WIFE。

　There；　God's　mercy　remembered　me。　There　the　black　blank　of　a
swoon　swallowed　me　up。


CHAPTER　XI。

THE　RETURN　TO　LIFE。

　My　first　remembrance　when　I　began　to　recover　my　senses　was　the
remembrance　of　Painagonizing　pain；　as　if　every　nerve　in　my　body
were　being　twisted　and　torn　out　of　me。　My　whole　being　writhed　and
quivered　under　the　dumb　and　dreadful　protest　of　Nature　against
the　effort　to　recall　me　to　life。　I　would　have　given　worlds　to　be
able　to　cry　outto　entreat　the　unseen　creatures　about　me　to　give
me　back　to　death。　How　long　that　speechless　agony　held　me　I　never
knew。　In　a　longer　or　shorter　time　there　stole　over　me　slowly　a
sleepy　sense　of　relief。　I　heard　my　own　labored　breathing。　I　felt
my　hands　moving　fee　bly　and　mechanically；　like　the　hands　of　a
baby。　I　faintly　opened　my　eyes　and　looked　round　meas　if　I　had
passed　through　the　ordeal　of　death；　and　had　awakened　to　new
senses　in　a　new　world。

The　first　person　I　saw　was　a　mana　stranger。　He　moved　quietly
out　of　my　sight；　beckoning；　as　he　disappeared；　to　some　other
person　in　the　room。

Slowly　and　unwillingly　the　other　person　advanced　to　the　sofa　on
which　I　lay。　A　faint　cry　of　joy　escaped　me；　I　tried　to　hold　out
my　feeble　hands。　The　other　person　who　was　approaching　me　was　my
husband！

I　looked　at　him　eagerly。　He　never　looked　at　me　in　return。　With
his　eyes　on　the　ground；　with　a　strange　appearance　of　confusion
and　distress　in　his　face；　he　too　moved　away　out　of　my　sight。　The
unknown　man　whom　I　had　first　noticed　followed　him　out　of　the
room。　I　called　after　him　faintly；　〃Eustace！〃　He　never　answered；
he　never　returned。　With　an　effort　I　moved　my　head　on　the　pillow；
so　as　to　look　round　on　the　other　side　of　the　sofa。　Another
familiar　face　appeared　before　me　as　if　in　a　dream。　My　good　old
Benjamin　was　sitting　watching　me；　with　the　tears　in　his　eyes。

He　rose　and　took　my　hand　silently；　in　his　simple；　kindly　way。

〃Where　is　Eustace？〃　I　asked。　〃Why　has　he　gone　away　and　left　me？〃

I　was　still　miserably　weak。　My　eyes　wandered　mechanically　round
the　room　as　I　put　the　question。　I　saw　Major　Fitz…David；　I　saw　the
table　on　which　the　singing　girl　had　opened　the　book　to　show　it　to
me。　I　saw　the　girl　herself；　sitting　alone　in　a　corner；　with　her
handkerchief　to　her　eyes　as　if　she　were　crying。　In　one　mysterious
moment　my　memory　recovered　its　powers。　The　recollection　of　that
fatal　title…page　came　back　to　me　in　all　its　horror。　The　one
feeling　that　it　roused　in　me　now　was　a　longing　to　see　my
husbandto　throw　myself　into　his　arms；　and　tell　him　how　firmly　I
believed　in　his　innocence；　how　truly　and　dearly　I　loved　him。　I
seized　on　Benjamin　with　feeble；　trembling　hands。　〃Bring　him　back
to　me！〃　I　cried；　wildly。　〃Where　is　he？　Help　me　to　get　up！〃

A　strange　voice　answered；　firmly　and　kindly：　〃Compose　yourself；
madam。　Mr。　Woodville　is　waiting　until　you　have　recovered；　in　a
room　close　by。〃

I　looked　at　him；　and　recognized　the