the law and the lady-第24部分

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occasion　only　she　showed　me　some　of　her　poems。　I　am　no　judge　of
such　things。　Her　poetry　was　of　the　dismal　kind；　despairing　about
herself；　and　wondering　why　she　had　ever　been　born；　and　nonsense
like　that。　Her　husband　came　in　more　than　once　for　some　hard　hits
at　his　cruel　heart　and　his　ignorance　of　his　wife's　merits。　In
short；　she　vented　her　discontent　with　her　pen　as　well　as　with　her
tongue。　There　were　timesand　pretty　often　toowhen　an　angel
from　heaven　would　have　failed　to　have　satisfied　Mrs。　Macallan。

〃Throughout　the　period　of　her　illness　the　deceased　lady　occupied
the　same　rooma　large　bedroom　situated　（like　all　the　best
bedrooms）　on　the　first　floor　of　the　house。

〃Yes：　the　plan　of　the　room　now　shown　to　me　is　quite　accurately
taken；　according　to　my　remembrance　of　it。　One　door　led　into　the
great　passage；　or　corridor；　on　which　all　the　doors　opened。　A
second　door；　at　one　side　（marked　B　on　the　plan）；　led　to　Mr。
Macallan's　sleeping…room。　A　third　door；　on　the　opposite　side
（marked　C　on　the　plan）；　communicated　with　a　little　study；　or
book…room；　used；　as　I　was　told；　by　Mr。　Macallan's　mother　when　she
was　staying　at　Gleninch；　but　seldom　or　never　entered　by　any　one
else。　Mr。　Macallan's　mother　was　not　at　Gleninch　while　I　was
there。　The　door　between　the　bedroom　and　this　study　was　locked；
and　the　key　was　taken　out。　I　don't　know　who　had　the　key；　or
whether　there　were　more　keys　than　one　in　existence。　The　door　was
never　opened　to　my　knowledge。　I　only　got　into　the　study；　to　look
at　it　along　with　the　housekeeper；　by　entering　through　a　second
door　that　opened　on　to　the　corridor。

〃I　beg　to　say　that　I　can　speak　from　my　own　knowledge　positively
about　Mrs。　Macallan's　illness；　and　about　the　sudden　change　which
ended　in　her　death。　By　the　doctor's　advice　I　made　notes　at　the
time　of　dates　and　hours；　and　such　like。　I　looked　at　my　notes
before　coming　here。

〃From　the　7th　of　October；　when　I　was　first　called　in　to　nurse
her；　to　the　20th　of　the　same　month；　she　slowly　but　steadily
improved　in　health。　Her　knee　was　still　painful；　no　doubt；　but　the
inflammatory　look　of　it　was　disappearing。　As　to　the　other
symptoms；　except　weakness　from　lying　in　bed；　and　irritability　of
temper；　there　was　really　nothing　the　matter　with　her。　She　slept
badly；　I　ought　perhaps　to　add。　But　we　remedied　this　by　means　of
composing　draughts　prescribed　for　that　purpose　by　the　doctor。

〃On　the　morning　of　the　21st；　at　a　few　minutes　past　six；　I　got　my
first　alarm　that　something　was　going　wrong　with　Mrs。　Macallan。

〃I　was　awoke　at　the　time　I　have　mentioned　by　the　ringing　of　the
hand…bell　which　she　kept　on　her　bed…table。　Let　me　say　for　myself
that　I　had　only　fallen　asleep　on　the　sofa　in　the　bedroom　at　past
two　in　the　morning　from　sheer　fatigue。　Mrs。　Macallan　was　then
awake。　She　was　in　one　of　her　bad　humors　with　me。　I　had　tried　to
prevail　on　her　to　let　me　remove　her　dressing…case　from　her
bed…table；　after　she　had　used　it　in　making　her　toilet　for　the
night。　It　took　up　a　great　deal　of　room；　and　she　could　not
possibly　want　it　again　before　the　morning。　But　no；　she　insisted
on　my　letting　it　be。　There　was　a　glass　inside　the　case；　and；
plain　as　she　was；　she　never　wearied　of　looking　at　herself　in　that
glass。　I　saw　that　she　was　in　a　bad　state　of　temper；　so　I　gave　her
her　way；　and　let　the　dressing…case　be。　Finding　that　she　was　too
sullen　to　speak　to　me　after　that；　and　too　obstinate　to　take　her
composing　draught　from　me　when　I　offered　it；　I　laid　me　down　on
the　sofa　at　her　bed　foot；　and　fell　asleep；　as　I　have　said。

〃The　moment　her　bell　rang　I　was　up　and　at　the　bedside；　ready　to
make　myself　useful。

〃I　asked　what　was　the　matter　with　her。　She　complained　of
faintness　and　depression；　and　said　she　felt　sick。　I　inquired　if
she　had　taken　anything　in　the　way　of　physic　or　food　while　I　had
been　asleep。　She　answered　that　her　husband　had　come　in　about　an
hour　since；　and；　finding　her　still　sleepless；　had　himself
administered　the　composing　draught。　Mr。　Macallan　（sleeping　in　the
next　room）　joined　us　while　she　was　speaking。　He　too　had　been
aroused　by　the　bell。　He　heard　what　Mrs。　Macallan　said　to　me　about
the　composing　draught；　and　made　no　remark　upon　it。　It　seemed　to
me　that　he　was　alarmed　at　his　wife's　faintness。　I　suggested　that
she　should　take　a　little　wine；　or　brandy　and　water。　She　answered
that　she　could　swallow　nothing　so　strong　as　wine　or　brandy；
having　a　burning　pain　in　her　stomach　already。　I　put　my　hand　on
her　stomachquite　lightly。　She　screamed　when　I　touched　her。

〃This　symptom　alarmed　us。　We　went　to　the　village　for　the　medical
man　who　had　attended　Mrs。　Macallan　during　her　illness：　one　Mr。
Gale。

〃The　doctor　seemed　no　better　able　to　account　for　the　change　for
the　worse　in　his　patient　than　we　were。　Hearing　her　complain　of
thirst；　he　gave　her　some　milk。　Not　long　after　taking　it　she　was
sick。　The　sickness　appeared　to　relieve　her。　She　soon　grew　drowsy
and　slumbered。　Mr。　Gale　left　us；　with　strict　injunctions　to　send
for　him　instantly　if　she　was　taken　ill　again。

〃Nothing　of　the　sort　happened；　no　change　took　place　for　the　next
three　hours　or　more。　She　roused　up　toward　half…past　nine　and
inquired　about　her　husband。　I　informed　her　that　he　had　returned
to　his　own　room；　and　asked　if　I　should　send　for　him。　She　said
'No。'　I　asked　next　if　she　would　like　anything　to　eat　or　drink。
She　said　'No'　again；　in　rather　a　vacant；　stupefied　way；　and　then
told　me　to　go　downstairs　and　get　my　breakfast。　On　my　way　down　I
met　the　housekeeper。　She　invited　me　to　breakfast　with　her　in　her
room；　instead　of　in　the　servants'　hall　as　usual。　I　remained　with
the　housekeeper　but　a　short　timecertainly　not　more　than　half　an
hour。

〃Coming　upstairs　again；　I　met　the　under…housemaid　sweeping　on　one
of　the　landings。

〃The　girl　informed　me　that　Mrs。　Macallan　had　taken　a　cup　of　tea
during　my　absence　in　the　housekeeper's　room。　Mr。　Macallan's　valet
had　ordered　the　tea　for　his　mistress　by　his　master's　directions。
The　under…housemaid　made　it；　and　took　it　upstairs　herself　to　Mrs。
Macallan's　room。　Her　master；　she　said；　opened　the　door　when　she
knocked；　and　took　the　tea…cup　from　her　with　his　own　hand。　He
opened　the　door　widely　enough　for　her　to　see　into　the　bedroom；
and　to　notice　that　nobody　was　with　Mrs。　Macallan　but　himself。

〃After　a　little　talk　with　the　under…housemaid；　I　returned　to　the
bedroom。　No　one　was　there。　Mrs。　Macallan　was　lying　perfectly
quiet；　with　her　face　turned　away　from　me　on　the　pillow。
Approaching　the　bedside；　I　kicked　against　something　on　the　floor。
It　was　a　broken　tea…cup。　I　said　to　Mrs。　Macallan；　'How　comes　the
tea…cup　to　be　broken；　ma'am？'　She　answered；　without　turning
toward　me；　in　an　odd；　muffled　kind　of　voice；　'I　dropped　it。'
'Before　you　drank　your　tea；　ma'am？'　I　asked。　'No；'　she　said；　'in
handing　the　cup　back　to　Mr。　Macallan；　after　I　had　done。'　I　had
put　my　question；　wishing　to　know；　in　case　she　had　spilled　the　tea
when　she　dropped　the　cup；　whether　it　would　be　necessary　to　get
her　any　more。　I　am　quite　sure　I　remember　correctly　my　question
and　her　answer。　I　inquired　next　if　she　had　been　long　alone。　She
said；　shortly；　'Yes；　I　have　been　trying　to　sleep。'　I　said；　'Do
you　feel　pretty　comfortable？'　She　answered；　'Yes；'　again。　All
this　time　she　still　kept　her　face　sulkily　turned　from　me　toward
the　wall。　Stooping　over　her　to　arrange　the　bedclothes；　I　looked
toward　her　table。　The　writing　materials　which　were　always　kept　on
it　were　disturbed；　and　there　was　wet　ink　on　one　of　the　pens。　I
said；　'Surely　you　haven't　been　writing；　ma'am？'　'Why　not？'　she
said；　'I　couldn't　sleep。'　'Another　poem？'　I　asked。　She　laughed　to
herselfa　bitter；　short　laugh。　'Yes；'　she　said；　'another　poem。'
'That's　good；'　I　said；　'it　looks　as　if　you　were　getting　quite
like　yourself　again。　We　shan't　want　the　doctor　any　more　to…day。'
She　made　no　answer　to　this；　except　an　impatient　sign　with　her
hand。　I　didn't　understand　the　sign。　Upon　that　she　spoke　again；
and　crossly　enough；　too'I　want　to　be　alone；　leave　me。'

〃I　had　no　choice　but　to　do　as　I　was　told。　To　the　best　of　my
observation；　there　was　nothing　the　matter　with　her；　and　nothing
for　the　nurse　to　do。　I　put　the　bell…rope　within　reach　of　her
hand；　and　I　went　downstairs　again。

〃Half　an　hour　more；　as　well　as　I　can　guess　it；　passed。　I　kept
within　hearing　of　the　bell；　but　it　never　rang。　I　was　not　quite　at
my　easewithout　exactly　knowing　why。　That　odd；　muffled　voice　in
which　she　had　spoken　to　me　hung　on　my　mind；　as　it　were。　I　was　not
quite　satisfied　about　leaving　her　alone　for　too　long　a　time
togetherand　then；　again；　I　was　unwilling　to　risk　throwing　her
into　one　of　her　fits　of　passion　by　going　back　before　she　rang　for
me。　It　ended　in　my　venturing　into　the　room　on　the　ground…floor
called　the　Morning…Room；　to　consult　Mr。　Macallan。　He　was　usually
to　be　found　there　in　the　forenoon　of　the　day。

〃On　this　occasion；　however；　when　I　looked　into　the　Morning…Room
it　was　empty。

〃At　the　same　moment　I　heard　the　master's　voice　on　the　terrace
outside。　I　went　out；　and　found　him　speaking　to　one　Mr。　Dexter；　an
old　friend　of　his；　and　（like　Mrs。　Beauly）　a　guest　staying　in　the
house。　Mr。　Dexter　was　sitting　at　the　window　of　his　room　upstairs
（he　was　a　cripple；　and　could　only　move　himself　about　in　a　chair
on　wheels）；　and　Mr。　Macallan　was　speaking　to　him　from　the　terrace
below。

〃'Dexter！'　I　heard　Mr。　Macallan　say。　'Where　is　Mrs。　Beauly？　Have
you　seen　anything　of　her？'

〃Mr。　Dexter　answered；　in　his　quick；　off…hand　way　of　speaking；
'Not　I。　I　know　nothing　about　her。'

〃Then　I　advanced；　and；　begging　pardon　for　intruding；　I　mentioned
to　Mr。　Macallan　the　difficulty　I　was　in　about　going　back　or　not
to　his　wife's　room　without　waiting　until　she　rang　for　me。　Before
he　could　advise　me　in　the　matter；　the　footman　made　his　appearance
and　informed　me　that　Mrs。　Macallan's　bell　was　then　ringingand
ringing　violently。

〃It　was　then　close　on　eleven　o'clock。　As　fast　as　I　could　mount
the　stairs　I　hastened　back　to　the　bedroom。

〃Before　I　opened　the　door　I　heard　Mrs。　Macallan　groaning。　She　was
in　dreadful　pain；　feeling　a　burning　heat　in　the　stomach　and　in
the　throat；　together　with　the　same　sickness　which　had　troubled
her　in　the　early　morning。　Though　no　doctor；　I　could　see　in　her
face　that　this　second　attack　wa