the legacy of cain-第53章

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the　barbarous　law；　which；　to　use　his　own　coarse　expression；　will
〃restore　his　conjugal　rights。〃

All　this　I　gather　from　the　narrative　of　my　unhappy　friend；　which
forms　one　of　the　two　inclosures　in　her　parcel。　She　has　already
made　her　escape。　Ha！　the　man　doesn't　live　who　can　circumvent
Elizabeth。　The　English　Court　of　Law　isn't　built　which　can　catch
her　when　she　roams　the　free　and　glorious　Continent。

The　vastness　of　this　amazing　woman's　mind　is　what　I　must　pause　to
admire。　In　the　frightful　catastrophe　that　has　befallen　her；　she
can　still　think　of　Philip　and　Euneece。　She　is　eager　to　hear　of
their　marriage；　and　renounces　Helena　with　her　whole　heart。　〃I　too
was　deceived　by　that　cunning　young　Woman；〃　she　writes。　〃Beware　of
her；　Selina。　Unless　I　am　much　mistaken；　she　is　going　to　end
badly。　Take　care　of　Philip；　take　care　of　Euneece。　If　you　want
help；　apply　at　once　to　my　favorite　hero　in　real　life；　The
Governor。〃　I　don't　presume　to　correct　Elizabeth's　language。　I
should　have　called　you　The　idol　of　the　Women。

The　second　inclosure　contains；　as　I　suppose；　a　wedding　present。
It　is　carefully　sealedit　feels　no　bigger　than　an　ordinary
letterand　it　contains　an　inscription　which　your
highly…cultivated　intelligence　may　be　able　to　explain。　I　copy　it
as　follows：

〃To　be　inclosed　in　another　envelope；　addressed　to　Mr。　Dunboyne
the　elder；　at　Percy's　Private　Hotel；　London；　and　delivered　by　a
trustworthy　messenger；　on　the　day　when　Mr。　Philip　Dunboyne　is
married　to　Miss　Eunice　Gracedieu。　Placed　meanwhile　under　the　care
of　Miss　Selina　Jillgall。〃

Why　is　this　mysterious　letter　to　be　sent　to　Philip's　father？　I
wonder　whether　that　circumstance　will　puzzle　you　as　it　has
puzzled　me。

I　have　kept　my　report　back；　so　as　to　send　you　the　last　news
relating　to　Philip's　state　of　health。　To　my　great　regret；　his
illness　seems　to　have　made　a　serious　advance　since　yesterday。
When　I　ask　if　he　is　in　pain；　he　says：　〃It　isn't　exactly　pain；　I
feel　as　if　I　was　sinking。　Sometimes　I　am　giddy；　and　sometimes　I
find　myself　feeling　thirsty　and　sick。〃　I　have　no　opportunity　of
looking　after　him　as　I　could　wish；　for　Helena　insists　on　nursing
him；　assisted　by　the　housemaid。　Maria　is　a　very　good　girl　in　her
way；　but　too　stupid　to　be　of　much　use。　If　he　is　not　better
to…morrow；　I　shall　insist　on　sending　for　the　doctor。


He　is　no　better；　and　he　wishes　to　have　medical　help。　Helena
doesn't　seem　to　understand　his　illness。　It　was　not　until　Philip
had　insisted　on　seeing　him　that　she　consented　to　send　for　the
doctor。

You　had　some　talk　with　this　experienced　physician　when　you　were
here；　and　you　know　what　a　clever　man　he　is。　When　I　tell　you　that
he　hesitates　to　say　what　is　the　matter　with　Philip；　you　will　feel
as　much　alarmed　as　I　do。　I　will　wait　to　send　this　to　the　post
until　I　can　write　in　a　more　definite　way。


Two　days　more　have　passed。　The　doctor　has　put　two　very　strange
questions　to　me。

He　asked；　first；　if　there　was　anybody　staying　with　us　besides　the
regular　members　of　the　household。　I　said　we　had　no　visitor。　He
wanted　to　know；　next；　if　Mr。　Philip　Dunboyne　had　made　any　enemies
since　he　has　been　living　in　our　town。　I　said　none　that　I　knew
ofand　I　took　the　liberty　of　asking　what　he　meant。　He　answered
to　this；　that　he　has　a　few　more　inquiries　to　make；　and　that　he
will　tell　me　what　he　means　to…morrow。


For　God's　sake　come　here　as　soon　as　you　possibly　can。　The　whole
burden　is　thrown　on　meand　I　am　quite　unequal　to　it。

I　received　the　doctor　to…day　in　the　drawing…room。　To　my
amazement；　he　begged　leave　to　speak　with　me　in　the　garden。　When　I
asked　why；　he　answered：　〃I　don't　want　to　have　a　listener　at　the
door。　Come　out　on　the　lawn；　where　we　can　be　sure　that　we　are
alone。〃

When　we　were　in　the　garden；　he　noticed　that　I　was　trembling。

〃Rouse　your　courage；　Miss　Jillgall；〃　he　said。　〃In　the　Minister's
helpless　state　there　is　nobody　whom　I　can　speak　to　but　yourself。〃

I　ventured　to　remind　him　that　he　might　speak　to　Helena　as　well　as
to　myself。

He　looked　as　black　as　thunder　when　I　mentioned　her　name。　All　he
said　was；　〃No！〃　But；　oh；　if　you　had　heard　his　voiceand　he　so
gentle　and　sweet…tempered　at　other　timesyou　would　have　felt；　as
I　did；　that　he　had　Helena　in　his　mind！

〃Now；　listen　to　this；〃　he　went　on。　〃Everything　that　my　art　can　do
for　Mr。　Philip　Dunboyne；　while　I　am　at　his　bedside；　is　undone
while　I　am　away　by　some　other　person。　He　is　worse　to…day　than　I
have　seen　him　yet。〃

〃Oh；　sir；　do　you　think　he　will　die？〃

〃He　will　certainly　die　unless　the　right　means　are　taken　to　save
him；　and　taken　at　once。　It　is　my　duty　not　to　flinch　from　telling
you　the　truth。　I　have　made　a　discovery　since　yesterday　which
satisfies　me　that　I　am　right。　Somebody　is　trying　to　poison　Mr。
Dunboyne；　and　somebody　will　succeed　unless　he　is　removed　from
this　house。〃

I　am　a　poor　feeble　creature。　The　doctor　caught　me；　or　I　should
have　dropped　on　the　grass。　It　was　not　a　fainting…fit。　I　only
shook　and　shivered　so　that　I　was　too　weak　to　stand　up。　Encouraged
by　the　doctor；　I　recovered　sufficiently　to　be　able　to　ask　him
where　Philip　was　to　be　taken　to。　He　said：　〃To　the　hospital。　No
poisoner　can　follow　my　patient　there。　Persuade　him　to　let　me　take
him　away；　when　I　call　again　in　an　hour's　time。〃

As　soon　as　I　could　hold　a　pen；　I　sent　a　telegram　to　you。　Pray；
pray　come　by　the　earliest　train。　I　also　telegraphed　to　old　Mr。
Dunboyne；　at　the　hotel　in　London。

It　was　impossible　for　me　to　face　Helena；　I　own　I　was　afraid。　The
cook　kindly　went　upstairs　to　see　who　was　in　Philip's　room。　It　was
the　housemaid's　turn　to　look　after　him　for　a　while。　I　went
instantly　to　his　bedside。

There　was　no　persuading　him　to　allow　himself　to　be　taken　to　the
hospital。　〃I　am　dying；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　have　any　pity　for　me；
send　for　Euneece。　Let　me　see　her　once　more；　let　me　hear　her　say
that　she　forgives　me；　before　I　die。〃

I　hesitated。　It　was　too　terrible　to　think　of　Euneece　in　the　same
house　with　her　sister。　Her　life　might　be　in　danger！　Philip　gave
me　a　look；　a　dreadful　ghastly　look。　〃If　you　refuse；〃　he　said
wildly；　〃the　grave　won't　hold　me。　I'll　haunt　you　for　the　rest　of
your　life。〃

〃She　shall　hear　that　you　are　ill；〃　I　answeredand　ran　out　of　the
room　before　he　could　speak　again。

What　I　had　promised　to　write；　I　did　write。　But；　placed　between
Euneece's　danger　and　Philip's　danger；　my　heart　was　all　for
Euneece。　Would　Helena　spare　her；　if　she　came　to　Philip's　bedside？
In　such　terror　as　I　never　felt　before　in　my　life；　I　added　a　word
more；　entreating　her　not　to　leave　the　farm。　I　promised　to　keep
her　regularly　informed　on　the　subject　of　Philip's　illness；　and　I
mentioned　that　I　expected　the　Governor　to　return　to　us
immediately。　〃Do　nothing；〃　I　wrote；　〃without　his　advice。〃　My
letter　having　been　completed；　I　sent　the　cook　away　with　it；　in　a
chaise。　She　belonged　to　the　neighborhood；　and　she　knew　the
farmhouse　well。

Nearly　two　hours　afterward；　I　heard　the　chaise　stop　at　the　door；
and　ran　out；　impatient　to　hear　how　my　sweet　girl　had　received　my
letter。　God　help　us　all！　When　I　opened　the　door；　the　first　person
whom　I　saw　was　Euneece　herself。


CHA　PTER　LIX。

DEFENSE。

ONE　surprise　followed　another；　after　I　had　encountered　Euneece　at
the　door。

When　my　fondness　had　excused　her　for　setting　the　well…meant
advice　in　my　letter　at　defiance；　I　was　conscious　of　expecting　to
see　her　in　tears；　eager；　distressingly　eager；　to　hear　what　hope
there　might　be　of　Philip's　recovery。　I　saw　no　tears；　I　heard　no
inquiries。　She　was　pale；　and　quiet；　and　silent。　Not　a　word　fell
from　her　when　we　met；　not　a　word　when　she　kissed　me；　not　a　word
when　she　led　the　way　into　the　nearest　roomthe　dining…room。　It
was　only　when　we　were　shut　in　together　that　she　spoke。

〃Which　is　Philip's　room？〃　she　asked。

Instead　of　wanting　to　know　how　he　was；　she　desired　to　know　where
he　was！　I　pointed　toward　the　back　dining…room；　which　had　been
made　into　a　bedroom　for　Philip。　He　had　chosen　it　himself；　when　he
first　came　to　stay　with　us；　because　the　window　opened　into　the
garden。　and　he　could　slip　out　and　smoke　at　any　hour　of　the　day　or
night；　when　he　pleased。

〃Who　is　with　him　now？〃　was　the　next　strange　thing　this
sadly…changed　girl　said　to　me。

〃Maria　is　taking　her　turn；〃　I　answered；　〃she　assists　in　nursing
Philip。〃

〃Where　is？〃　Euneece　got　no　further　than　that。　Her　breath
quickened；　her　color　faded　away。　I　had　seen　people　look　as　she
was　looking　now；　when　they　suffered　under　some　sudden　pain。
Before　I　could　offer　to　help　her；　she　rallied；　and　went　on：
〃Where；〃　she　began　again；　〃is　the　other　nurse？〃

〃You　mean　Helena？〃　I　said。

〃I　mean　the　Poisoner。〃

When　I　remind　you；　dear　Mr。　Governor；　that　my　letter　had
carefully　concealed　from　her　the　horrible　discovery　made　by　the
doctor；　your　imagination　will　picture　my　state　of　mind。　She　saw
that　I　was　overpowered。　Her　sweet　nature；　so　strangely　frozen　up
thus　far；　melted　at　last。　〃You　don't　know　what　I　have　heard；〃　she
said；　〃you　don't　know　what　thoughts　have　been　roused　in　me。〃　She
left　her　chair；　and　sat　on　my　knee　with　the　familiarity　of　the
dear　old　times；　and　took　the　letter　that　I　had　written　to　her
from　her　pocket。

〃Look　at　it　yourself；〃　she　said；　〃and　tell　me　if　anybody　could
read　it；　and　not　see　that　you　were　concealing　something。　My　dear；
I　have　driven　round　by　the　doctor's　houseI　have　seen　himI
have　persuaded　him；　or　perhaps　I　ought　to　say　surprised　him；　into
telling　me　the　truth。　But　the　kind　old　man　is　obstinate。　He
wouldn't　believe　me　when　I　told　him　I　was　on　my　way　here　to　save
Philip's　life。　He　said：　'My　child；　you　will　only　put　your　own
life　in　jeopardy。　If　I　had　not　seen　that　danger；　I　should　never
have　told　you　of　the　dreadful　state　of　things　at　home。　Go　back　to
the　good　people　at　the　farm；　and　leave　the　saving　of　Philip　to
me。'　〃

〃He　was　right；　Euneece；　entirely　right。〃

〃No；　dear；　he　was　wrong。　I　begged　him　to　come　here；　and　judge　for
himself；　and　I　ask　you　to　do　the　same。〃

I　was　obstinate。　〃Go　back！〃　I　persisted。　〃Go　back　to　the　farm！〃

〃Can　I　see　Philip？〃　she　asked。

I　have　heard　some　insolent　men　say　that　women　are　like　cats。　If
they　mean　that　we　do；　figuratively　speaking；　scratch　at　times；　I
am　afraid　they　are　not　altogether　wrong。　An　irresistible　impulse
made　me　say　to　poor　Euneece：　〃This　is　a　change　indeed；　since　you
refused　to　receive　Philip。〃

〃Is　there　no　change　in　the　circumstances？〃　she　asked　sadly。
〃Isn't　he　ill　and　in　danger？〃

I　begged　her　to　forgive　me；　I　said　I　meant　no　harm。

〃I　gave　him　up　to　my　sister；〃　she　continued；　〃when　I　believed
that　his　happiness　depended；　not　on　me；　but　on　her。　I　take　him
back　to　myself；　when　he　is　at　the　mercy　of　a　demon　who　threatens
his　life。　Come；　Selina；　let　us　go　to　Philip。〃

She　put　her　arm　round　me；　and　made　me　get　up　from　my　chair。　I　was
so　easily　persuaded　by　her；　that　the　fear　of　what　Helena's
jealousy　and　Helena's　anger　might　do　was　scarcely　present　in　my
thoughts。　The　door　of　communication　was　locked　on　the　side　of　the
bedchamber。　I　went　into　the　hall；　to　enter　Philip's　room　by　the
other　door。　She　followed；　waiting　behind　me。　I　heard　what　passed
between　them　when　Maria　went　out　to　her。

〃Where　is　Miss　Gracedieu？〃

〃Resting　upstairs；　miss；　in　her　room。〃

〃Look　at　the　clock