the queen of hearts-第66章

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all　of　a　sudden！

More　knocking　and　louder　voices。　I　must　run　to　the　door　and　see
what　it　is。　Oh；　Mary！　Mary！　I　hope　I　am　not　going　to　have　another
fright　about　you；　but　I　feel　sadly　like　it。


March　8th。

March　9th。

March　10th。

March　11th。　Oh　me！　all　the　troubles　I　have　ever　had　in　my　life
are　as　nothing　to　the　trouble　I　am　in　now。　For　three　days　I　have
not　been　able　to　write　a　single　line　in　this　journal；　which　I
have　kept　so　regularly　ever　since　I　was　a　girl。　For　three　days　I
have　not　once　thought　of　RobertI；　who　am　always　thinking　of　him
at　other　times。

My　poor；　dear；　unhappy　Mary！　the　worst　I　feared　for　you　on　that
night　when　I　sat　up　alone　was　far　below　the　dreadful　calamity
that　has　really　happened。　How　can　I　write　about　it；　with　my　eyes
full　of　tears　and　my　hand　all　of　a　tremble？　I　don't　even　know　why
I　am　sitting　down　at　my　desk　now；　unless　it　is　habit　that　keeps
me　to　my　old　every…day　task；　in　spite　of　all　the　grief　and　fear
which　seem　to　unfit　me　entirely　for　performing　it。

The　people　of　the　house　were　asleep　and　lazy　on　that　dreadful
night；　and　I　was　the　first　to　open　the　door。　Never；　never　could　I
describe　in　writing；　or　even　say　in　plain　talk；　though　it　is　so
much　easier；　what　I　felt　when　I　saw　two　policemen　come　in；
carrying　between　them　what　seemed　to　me　to　be　a　dead　girl；　and
that　girl　Mary！　I　caught　hold　of　her；　and　gave　a　scream　that　must
have　alarmed　the　whole　house；　for　frightened　people　came　crowding
downstairs　in　their　night…dresses。　There　was　a　dreadful　confusion
and　noise　of　loud　talking；　but　I　heard　nothing　and　saw　nothing
till　I　had　got　her　into　my　room　and　laid　on　my　bed　。　I　stooped
down；　frantic…like；　to　kiss　her；　and　saw　an　awful　mark　of　a　blow
on　the　left　temple；　and　felt；　at　the　same　time；　a　feeble　flutter
of　her　breath　on　my　cheek。　The　discovery　that　she　was　not　dead
seemed　to　give　me　back　my　senses　again。　I　told　one　of　the
policemen　where　the　nearest　doctor　was　to　be　found；　and　sat　down
by　the　bedside　while　he　was　gone；　and　bathed　her　poor　head　with
cold　water。　She　never　opened　her　eyes；　or　moved；　or　spoke；　but
she　breathed；　and　that　was　enough　for　me；　because　it　was　enough
for　life。

The　policeman　left　in　the　room　was　a　big；　thick…voiced；　pompous
man；　with　a　horrible　unfeeling　pleasure　in　hearing　himself　talk
before　an　assembly　of　frightened；　silent　people。　He　told　us　how
he　had　found　her；　as　if　he　had　been　telling　a　story　in　a
tap…room；　and　began　with　saying：　〃I　don't　think　the　young　woman
was　drunk。〃

Drunk！　My　Mary；　who　might　have　been　a　born　lady　for　all　the
spirits　she　ever　toucheddrunk！　I　could　have　struck　the　man　for
uttering　the　word；　with　her　lyingpoor　suffering　angelso
white；　and　still；　and　helpless　before　him。　As　it　was；　I　gave　him
a　look；　but　he　was　too　stupid　to　understand　it；　and　went　droning
on；　saying　the　same　thing　over　and　over　again　in　the　same　words。
And　yet　the　story　of　how　they　found　her　was；　like　all　the　sad
stories　I　have　ever　heard　told　in　real　life；　so　very；　very　short。
They　had　just　seen　her　lying　along　on　the　curbstone　a　few　streets
off；　and　had　taken　her　to　the　station…house。　There　she　had　been
searched；　and　one　of　my　cards；　that　I　gave　to　ladies　who　promise
me　employment；　had　been　found　in　her　pocket；　and　so　they　had
brought　her　to　our　house。　This　was　all　the　man　really　had　to
tell。　There　was　nobody　near　her　when　she　was　found；　and　no
evidence　to　show　how　the　blow　on　her　temple　had　been　inflicted。

What　a　time　it　was　before　the　doctor　came；　and　how　dreadful　to
hear　him　say；　after　he　had　looked　at　her；　that　he　was　afraid　all
the　medical　men　in　the　world　could　be　of　no　use　here！　He　could
not　get　her　to　swallow　anything；　and　the　more　he　tried　to　bring
her　back　to　her　senses　the　less　chance　there　seemed　of　his
succeeding。　He　examined　the　blow　on　her　temple；　and　said　he
thought　she　must　have　fallen　down　in　a　fit　of　some　sort；　and
struck　her　head　against　the　pavement；　and　so　have　given　her　brain
what　he　was　afraid　was　a　fatal　shake。　I　asked　what　was　to　be　done
if　she　showed　any　return　to　sense　in　the　night。　He　said：　〃Send
for　me　directly〃；　and　stopped　for　a　little　while　afterward
stroking　her　head　gently　with　his　hand；　and　whispering　to
himself：　〃Poor　girl；　so　young　and　so　pretty！〃　I　had　felt；　some
minutes　before；　as　if　I　could　have　struck　the　policeman；　and　I
felt　now　as　if　I　could　have　thrown　my　arms　round　the　doctor's
neck　and　kissed　him。　I　did　put　out　my　hand　when　he　took　up　his
hat；　and　he　shook　it　in　the　friendliest　way。　〃Don't　hope；　my
dear；〃　he　said；　and　went　out。

The　rest　of　the　lodgers　followed　him；　all　silent　and　shocked；
except　the　inhuman　wretch　who　owns　the　house　and　lives　in
idleness　on　the　high　rents　he　wrings　from　poor　people　like　us。

〃She's　three　weeks　in　my　debt；〃　says　he；　with　a　frown　and　an
oath。　〃Where　the　devil　is　my　money　to　come　from　now？〃　Brute！
brute！

I　had　a　long　cry　alone　with　her　that　seemed　to　ease　my　heart　a
little。　She　was　not　the　least　changed　for　the　better　when　I　had
wiped　away　the　tears　and　could　see　her　clearly　again。　I　took　up
her　right　hand；　which　lay　nearest　to　me。　It　was　tight　clinched。　I
tried　to　unclasp　the　fingers；　and　succeeded　after　a　little　time。
Something　dark　fell　out　of　the　palm　of　her　hand　as　I　straightened
it。

I　picked　the　thing　up；　and　smoothed　it　out；　and　saw　that　it　was
an　end　of　a　man's　cravat。

A　very　old；　rotten；　dingy　strip　of　black　silk；　with　thin　lilac
lines；　all　blurred　and　deadened　with　dirt；　running　across　and
across　the　stuff　in　a　sort　of　trellis…work　pattern。　The　small　end
of　the　cravat　was　hemmed　in　the　usual　way；　but　the　other　end　was
all　jagged；　as　if　the　morsel　then　in　my　hands　had　been　torn　off
violently　from　the　rest　of　the　stuff。　A　chill　ran　all　over　me　as
I　looked　at　it；　for　that　poor；　stained；　crumpled　end　of　a　cravat
seemed　to　be　saying　to　me；　as　though　it　had　been　in　plain　words：
〃If　she　dies；　she　has　come　to　her　death　by　foul　means；　and　I　am
the　witness　of　it。〃

I　had　been　frightened　enough　before；　lest　she　should　die　suddenly
and　quietly　without　my　knowing　it；　while　we　were　alone　together；
but　I　got　into　a　perfect　agony　now；　for　fear　this　last　worst
affliction　should　take　me　by　surprise。　I　don't　suppose　five
minutes　passed　all　that　woful　night　through　without　my　getting　up
and　putting　my　cheek　close　to　her　mouth；　to　feel　if　the　faint
breaths　still　fluttered　out　of　it。　They　came　and　went　just　the
same　as　at　first；　though　the　fright　I　was　in　often　made　me　fancy
they　were　stilled　forever。

Just　as　the　church　clocks　were　striking　four　I　was　startled　by
seeing　the　room　door　open。　It　was　only　Dusty　Sal　（as　they　call
her　in　the　house）；　the　maid…of…all…work。　She　was　wrapped　up　in
the　blanket　off　her　bed；　her　hair　was　all　tumbled　over　her　face；
and　her　eyes　were　heavy　with　sleep　as　she　came　up　to　the　bedside
where　I　was　sitting。

〃I've　two　hours　good　before　I　begin　to　work；〃　says　she；　in　her
hoarse；　drowsy　voice；　〃and　I've　come　to　sit　up　and　take　my　turn
at　watching　her。　You　lay　down　and　get　some　sleep　on　the　rug。
Here's　my　blanket　for　you。　I　don't　mind　the　coldit　will　keep　me
awake。〃

〃You　are　very　kindvery；　very　kind　and　thoughtful；　Sally；〃　says
I；　〃but　I　am　too　wretched　in　my　mind　to　want　sleep；　or　rest；　or
to　do　anything　but　wait　where　I　am；　and　try　and　hope　for　the
best。〃

〃Then　I'll　wait；　too；〃　says　Sally。　〃I　must　do　something；　if
there's　nothing　to　do　but　waiting；　I'll　wait。〃

And　she　sat　down　opposite　me　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　drew　the
blanket　close　round　her　with　a　shiver。

〃After　working　so　hard　as　you　do；　I'm　sure　you　must　want　all　the
little　rest　you　can　get；〃　says　I。

〃Excepting　only　you；〃　says　Sally；　putting　her　heavy　arm　very
clumsily；　but　very　gently　at　the　same　time；　round　Mary's　feet；
and　looking　hard　at　the　pale；　still　face　on　the　pillow。
〃Excepting　you；　she's　the　only　soul　in　this　house　as　never　swore
at　me；　or　give　me　a　hard　word　that　I　can　remember。　When　you　made
puddings　on　Sundays；　and　give　her　half；　she　always　give　me　a　bit。
The　rest　of　'em　calls　me　Dusty　Sal。　Excepting　only　you；　again；
she　always　called　me　Sally；　as　if　she　knowed　me　in　a　friendly
way。　I　ain't　no　good　here；　but　I　ain't　no　harm；　neither；　and　I
shall　take　my　turn　at　the　sitting　upthat's　what　I　shall　do！〃

She　nestled　her　head　down　close　at　Mary's　feet　as　she　spoke　those
words；　and　said　no　more。　I　once　or　twice　thought　she　had　fallen
asleep；　but　whenever　I　looked　at　her　her　heavy　eyes　were　always
wide　open。　She　never　changed　her　position　an　inch　till　the　church
clocks　struck　six；　then　she　gave　one　little　squeeze　to　Mary's
feet　with　her　arm；　and　shuffled　out　of　the　room　without　a　word。　A
minute　or　two　after；　I　heard　her　down　below；　lighting　the　kitchen
fire　just　as　usual。

A　little　later　the　doctor　stepped　over　before　his　breakfast…time
to　see　if　there　had　been　any　change　in　the　night。　He　only　shook
his　head　when　he　looked　at　her　as　if　there　was　no　hope。　Having
nobody　else　to　consult　that　I　could　put　trust　in；　I　showed　him
the　end　of　the　cravat；　and　told　him　of　the　dreadful　suspicion
that　had　arisen　in　my　mind　when　I　found　it　in　her　hand。

〃You　must　keep　it　carefully；　and　produce　it　at　the　inquest；〃　he
said。　〃I　don't　know；　though；　that　it　is　likely　to　lead　to
anything。　The　bit　of　stuff　may　have　been　lying　on　the　pavement
near　her；　and　her　hand　may　have　unconsciously　clutched　it　when
she　fell。　Was　she　subject　to　fainting…fits？〃

〃Not　more　so；　sir；　than　other　young　girls　who　are　hard…worked　and
anxious；　and　weakly　from　poor　living；〃　I　answered。

〃I　can't　say　that　she　may　not　have　got　that　blow　from　a　fall；〃
the　doctor　went　on；　locking　at　her　temple　again。　〃I　can't　say
that　it　presents　any　positive　appearance　of　having　been　inflicted
by　another　person。　It　will　be　important；　however；　to　ascertain
what　state　of　health　she　was　in　last　night。　Have　you　any　idea
where　she　was　yesterday　evening？〃

I　told　him　where　she　was　employed　at　work；　and　said　I　imagined
she　must　have　been　kept　there　later　than　usual。

〃I　shall　pass　the　place　this　morning〃　said　the　doctor；　〃in　going
my　rounds　among　my　patients；　and　I'll　just　step　in　and　make　some
inquiries。〃

I　thanked　him；　and　we　parted。　Just　as　he　was　closing　the　door　he
looked　in　again。

〃Was　she　your　sister？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　sir；　only　my　dear　friend。〃

He　said　nothing　more；　but　I　heard　him　sigh　as　he　shut　the　door
softly。　Perhaps　he　once　had　a　sister　of　his　own；　and　lost　her？
Perhaps　she　was　like　Mary　in　the　face？

The　doctor　was　hours　gone　away。　I　began　to　feel　unspeakably
forlorn　and　helpless；　so　much　so　as　even　to　wish　selfishly　that
Robert　might　really　have　sailed　from　America；　and　might　get　to
London　in　time　to　assist　and　console　me。

No　living　creature　came　into　the　room　but　Sally。　The　first　time
she　brought　me　some　tea；　the　second　and　third　times　she　only
looked　in　to　see　if　there　was　any　change；　and　glanced　her　eye
toward　the　bed。　I　had　never　known　her　so　silent　before；　it　seemed
almost　as　if　this　dreadful　accident　had　struck　her　dumb。　I　ought
to　have　spoken　to　her；　perhaps；　but　there　was　something　in　her
face　that　daunted　me；　and；　besides；　the　fever　of　anxiety　I　was　in
began　to　dry　up　my　lips；　as　if　they　would　never　be　able　to　shape
any　words　again。　I