the queen of hearts-第67章

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began　to　dry　up　my　lips；　as　if　they　would　never　be　able　to　shape
any　words　again。　I　was　still　tormented　by　that　frightful
apprehension　of　the　past　night；　that　she　would　die　without　my
knowing　itdie　without　saying　one　word　to　clear　up　the　awful
mystery　of　this　blow；　and　set　the　suspicions　at　rest　forever
which　I　still　felt　whenever　my　eyes　fell　on　the　end　of　the　old
cravat。

At　last　the　doctor　came　back。

〃I　think　you　may　safely　clear　your　mind　of　any　doubts　to　which
that　bit　of　stuff　may　have　given　rise；〃　he　said。　〃She　was；　as　you
supposed；　detained　late　by　her　employers；　and　she　fainted　in　the
work…room。　They　most　unwisely　and　unkindly　let　her　go　home　alone；
without　giving　her　any　stimulant；　as　soon　as　she　came　to　her
senses　again。　Nothing　is　more　probable；　under　these
circumstances；　than　that　she　should　faint　a　second　time　on　her
way　here。　A　fall　on　the　pavement；　without　any　friendly　arm　to
break　it；　might　have　produced　even　a　worse　injury　than　the　injury
we　see。　I　believe　that　the　only　ill　usage　to　which　the　poor　girl
was　exposed　was　the　neglect　she　met　with　in　the　work…room。〃

〃You　speak　very　reasonably；　I　own；　sir；〃　said　I；　not　yet　quite
convinced。　〃Still；　perhaps　she　may〃

〃My　poor　girl；　I　told　you　not　to　hope；〃　said　the　doctor；
interrupting　me。　He　went　to　Mary；　and　lifted　up　her　eyelids；　and
looked　at　her　eyes　while　he　spoke；　then　added；　〃If　you　still
doubt　how　she　came　by　that　blow；　do　not　encourage　the　idea　that
any　words　of　hers　will　ever　enlighten　you。　She　will　never　speak
again。〃

〃Not　dead！　Oh；　sir；　don't　say　she's　dead！〃

〃She　is　dead　to　pain　and　sorrowdead　to　speech　and　recognition。
There　is　more　animation　in　the　life　of　the　feeblest　insect　that
flies　than　in　the　life　that　is　left　in　her。　When　you　look　at　her
now；　try　to　think　that　she　is　in　heaven。　That　is　the　best　comfort
I　can　give　you；　after　telling　the　hard　truth。〃

I　did　not　believe　him。　I　could　not　believe　him。　So　long　as　she
breathed　at　all；　so　long　I　was　resolved　to　hope。　Soon　after　the
doctor　was　gone；　Sally　came　in　again；　and　found　me　listening　（if
I　may　call　it　so）　at　Mary's　lips。　She　went　to　where　my　little
hand…glass　hangs　against　the　wall；　took　it　down；　and　gave　it　to
me。

〃See　if　the　breath　marks　it；〃　she　said。

Yes；　her　breath　did　mark　it；　but　very　faintly。　Sally　cleaned　the
glass　with　her　apron；　and　gave　it　back　to　me。　As　she　did　so；　she
half　stretched　out　her　hand　to　Mary's　face；　but　drew　it　in　again
suddenly；　as　if　she　was　afraid　of　soiling　Mary's　delicate　skin
with　her　hard；　horny　fingers。　Going　out；　she　stopped　at　the　foot
of　the　bed；　and　scraped　away　a　little　patch　of　mud　that　was　on
one　of　Mary's　shoes。

〃I　always　used　to　clean　'em　for　her；〃　said　Sally；　〃to　save　her
hands　from　getting　blacked。　May　I　take　'em　off　now；　and　clean　'em
again？〃

I　nodded　my　head；　for　my　heart　was　too　heavy　to　speak。　Sally　took
the　shoes　off　with　a　slow；　awkward　tenderness；　and　went　out。

An　hour　or　more　must　have　passed；　when；　putting　the　glass　over
her　lips　again；　I　saw　no　mark　on　it。　I　held　it　closer　and　closer。
I　dulled　it　accidentally　with　my　own　breath；　and　cleaned　it。　I
held　it　over　her　again。　Oh；　Mary；　Mary；　the　doctor　was　right！　I
ought　to　have　only　thought　of　you　in　heaven！

Dead；　without　a　word；　without　a　signwithout　even　a　look　to　tell
the　true　story　of　the　blow　that　killed　her！　I　could　not　call　to
anybody；　I　could　not　cry；　I　could　not　so　much　as　put　the　glass
down　and　give　her　a　kiss　for　the　last　time。　I　don't　know　how　long
I　had　sat　there　with　my　eyes　burning；　and　my　hands　deadly　cold；
when　Sally　came　in　with　the　shoes　cleaned；　and　carried　carefully
in　her　apron　for　fear　of　a　soil　touching　them。　At　the　sight　of
that

I　can　write　no　more。　My　tears　drop　so　fast　on　the　paper　that　I
can　see　nothing。


March　12th。　She　died　on　the　afternoon　of　the　eighth。　On　the
morning　of　the　ninth；　I　wrote；　as　in　duty　bound；　to　her
stepmother　at　Hammersmith。　There　was　no　answer。　I　wrote　again；　my
letter　was　returned　to　me　this　morning　unopened。　For　all　that
woman　cares；　Mary　might　be　buried　with　a　pauper's　funeral；　but
this　shall　never　be；　if　I　pawn　everything　about　me；　down　to　the
very　gown　that　is　on　my　back。　The　bare　thought　of　Mary　being
buried　by　the　workhouse　gave　me　the　spirit　to　dry　my　eyes；　and　go
to　the　undertaker's；　and　tell　him　how　I　was　placed。　I　said　if　he
would　get　me　an　estimate　of　all　that　would　have　to　be　paid；　from
first　to　last；　for　the　cheapest　decent　funeral　that　could　be　had；
I　would　undertake　to　raise　the　money。　He　gave　me　the　estimate；
written　in　this　way；　like　a　common　bill：

　　　　A　walking　funeral　complete。。。。。。。。。。。。Pounds　1　13　8
　　　　Vestry。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　4　4
　　　　Rector。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　4　4
　　　　Clerk。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　1　0
　　　　Sexton。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　1　0
　　　　Beadle。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　1　0
　　　　Bell。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　1　0
　　　　Six　feet　of　ground。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。0　　2　0
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　Total　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Pounds　2　　8　4

If　I　had　the　heart　to　give　any　thought　to　it；　I　should　be
inclined　to　wish　that　the　Church　could　afford　to　do　without　so
many　small　charges　for　burying　poor　people；　to　whose　friends　even
shillings　are　of　consequence。　But　it　is　useless　to　complain；　the
money　must　be　raised　at　once。　The　charitable　doctora　poor　man
himself；　or　he　would　not　be　living　in　our　neighborhoodhas
subscribed　ten　shillings　toward　the　expenses；　and　the　coroner；
when　the　inquest　was　over；　added　five　more。　Perhaps　others　may
assist　me。　If　not；　I　have　fortunately　clothes　and　furniture　of　my
own　to　pawn。　And　I　must　set　about　parting　with　them　without
delay；　for　the　funeral　is　to　be　to…morrow；　the　thirteenth。

The　funeralMary's　funeral！　It　is　well　that　the　straits　and
difficulties　I　am　in　keep　my　mind　on　the　stretch。　If　I　had
leisure　to　grieve；　where　should　I　find　the　courage　to　face
to…morrow？

Thank　God　they　did　not　want　me　at　the　inquest。　The　verdict　given；
with　the　doctor；　the　policeman；　and　two　persons　from　the　place
where　she　worked；　for　witnesses；　was　Accidental　Death。　The　end　of
the　cravat　was　produced；　and　the　coroner　said　that　it　was
certainly　enough　to　suggest　suspicion；　but　the　jury；　in　the
absence　of　any　positive　evidence；　held　to　the　doctor's　notion
that　she　had　fainted　and　fallen　down；　and　so　got　the　blow　on　her
temple。　They　reproved　the　people　where　Mary　worked　for　letting
her　go　home　alone；　without　so　much　as　a　drop　of　brandy　to　support
her；　after　she　had　fallen　into　a　swoon　from　exhaustion　before
their　eyes。　The　coroner　added；　on　his　own　account；　that　he
thought　the　reproof　was　thoroughly　deserved。　After　that；　the
cravat…end　was　given　back　to　me　by　my　own　desire；　the　police
saying　that　they　could　make　no　investigations　with　such　a　slight
clew　to　guide　them。　They　may　think　so；　and　the　coroner；　and
doctor；　and　jury　may
　think　so；　but；　in　spite　of　all　that　has　passed；　I　am　now　more
firmly　persuaded　than　ever　that　there　is　some　dreadful　mystery　in
connection　with　that　blow　on　my　poor　lost　Mary's　temple　which　has
yet　to　be　revealed；　and　which　may　come　to　be　discovered　through
this　very　fragment　of　a　cravat　that　I　found　in　her　hand。　I　cannot
give　any　good　reason　for　why　I　think　so；　but　I　know　that　if　I　had
been　one　of　the　jury　at　the　inquest；　nothing　should　have　induced
me　to　consent　to　such　a　verdict　as　Accidental　Death。

After　I　had　pawned　my　things；　and　had　begged　a　small　advance　of
wages　at　the　place　where　I　work　to　make　up　what　was　still　wanting
to　pay　for　Mary's　funeral；　I　thought　I　might　have　had　a　little
quiet　time　to　prepare　myself　as　I　best　could　for　to…morrow。　But
this　was　not　to　be。　When　I　got　home　the　landlord　met　me　in　the
passage。　He　was　in　liquor；　and　more　brutal　and　pitiless　in　his
way　of　looking　and　speaking　than　ever　I　saw　him　before。

〃So　you're　going　to　be　fool　enough　to　pay　for　her　funeral；　are
you？〃　were　his　first　words　to　me。

I　was　too　weary　and　heart…sick　to　answer；　I　only　tried　to　get　by
him　to　my　own　door。

〃If　you　can　pay　for　burying　her；〃　he　went　on；　putting　himself　in
front　of　me；　〃you　can　pay　her　lawful　debts。　She　owes　me　three
weeks'　rent。　Suppose　you　raise　the　money　for　that　next；　and　hand
it　over　to　me？　I'm　not　joking；　I　can　promise　you。　I　mean　to　have
my　rent；　and；　if　somebody　don't　pay　it；　I'll　have　her　body　seized
and　sent　to　the　workhouse！〃

Between　terror　and　disgust；　I　thought　I　should　have　dropped　to
the　floor　at　his　feet。　But　I　determined　not　to　let　him　see　how　he
had　horrified　me；　if　I　could　possibly　control　myself。　So　I
mustered　resolution　enough　to　answer　that　I　did　not　believe　the
law　gave　him　any　such　wicked　power　over　the　dead。

〃I'll　teach　you　what　the　law　is！〃　he　broke　in；　〃you'll　raise
money　to　bury　her　like　a　born　lady；　when　she's　died　in　my　debt；
will　you？　And　you　think　I'll　let　my　rights　be　trampled　upon　like
that；　do　you？　See　if　I　do！　I'll　give　you　till　to…night　to　think
about　it。　If　I　don't　have　the　three　weeks　she　owes　before
to…morrow；　dead　or　alive；　she　shall　go　to　the　workhouse！〃

This　time　I　managed　to　push　by　him；　and　get　to　my　own　room；　and
lock　the　door　in　his　face。　As　soon　as　I　was　alone　I　fell　into　a
breathless；　suffocating　fit　of　crying　that　seemed　to　be　shaking
me　to　pieces。　But　there　was　no　good　and　no　help　in　tears；　I　did
my　best　to　calm　myself　after　a　little　while；　and　tried　to　think
who　I　should　run　to　for　help　and　protection。

The　doctor　was　the　first　friend　I　thought　of；　but　I　knew　he　was
always　out　seeing　his　patients　of　an　afternoon。　The　beadle　was
the　next　person　who　came　into　my　head。　He　had　the　look　of　being　a
very　dignified；　unapproachable　kind　of　man　when　he　came　about　the
inquest；　but　he　talked　to　me　a　little　then；　and　said　I　was　a　good
girl；　and　seemed；　I　really　thought；　to　pity　me。　So　to　him　I
determined　to　apply　in　my　great　danger　and　distress。

Most　fortunately；　I　found　him　at　home。　When　I　told　him　of　the
landlord's　infamous　threats；　and　of　the　misery　I　was　suffering　in
consequence　of　them；　he　rose　up　with　a　stamp　of　his　foot；　and
sent　for　his　gold…laced　cocked　hat　that　he　wears　on　Sundays；　and
his　long　cane　with　the　ivory　top　to　it。

〃I'll　give　it　to　him；〃　said　the　beadle。　〃Come　along　with　me；　my
dear。　I　think　I　told　you　you　were　a　good　girl　at　the　inquestif
I　didn't；　I　tell　you　so　now。　I'll　give　it　to　him！　Come　along　with
me。〃

And　he　went　out；　striding　on　with　his　cocked　hat　and　his　great
cane；　and　I　followed　him。

〃Landlord！〃　he　cries；　the　moment　he　gets　into　the　passage；　with　a
thump　of　his　cane　on　the　floor；　〃landlord！〃　with　a　look　all　round
him　as　if　he　was　King　of　England　calling　to　a　beast；　〃come　out！〃

The　moment　the　landlord　came　out　and　saw　who　it　was；　his　eye
fixed　on　the　cocked　hat；　and　he　turned　as　pale　as　ashes。

〃How　dare　you　frighten　this　poor　girl？〃　says　the　beadle。　〃How
dare　you　bully　her　at　this　sorrowful　time　with　threatening　to　do
what　you　know　you　can't　do？　How　dare　you　be　a　cowardly；　bullying；
braggadocio　of　an　unmanly　landlord？　Don't　talk　to　me：　I　won't
hear　you。　I'll　pull　you　up；　sir。　If　you　say　another　word　to　the
young　woman；　I'll　pull