the legacy of cain-第59部分

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〃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；　and　tell　me　when　you　expect　her　to　come　down
here。〃

〃I　am　to　call　her；　miss；　in　ten　minutes　more。〃

〃Wait　in　the　dining…room；　Maria；　till　I　come　back　to　you。　〃

She　joined　me。　I　held　the　door　open　for　her　to　go　into　Philip's
room。　It　was　not　out　of　curiosity；　the　feeling　that　urged　me　was
sympathy；　when　I　waited　a　moment　to　see　their　first　meeting。　She
bent　over　the　poor；　pallid；　trembling；　suffering　man；　and　raised
him　in　her　arms；　and　laid　his　head　on　her　bosom。　〃My　Philip！〃　She
murmured　those　words　in　a　kiss。　I　closed　the　door；　I　had　a　good
cry；　and；　oh；　how　it　comforted　me！

There　was　only　a　minute　to　spare　when　she　came　out　of　the　room。
Maria　was　waiting　for　her。　Euneece　said；　as　quietly　as　ever：　〃Go
and　call　Miss　Gracedieu。〃

The　girl　looked　at　her；　and　sawI　don't　know　what。　Maria　became
alarmed。　But　she　went　up　the　stairs；　and　returned　in　haste　to
tell　us　that　her　young　mistress　was　coming　down。

The　faint　rustling　of　Helena's　dress　as　she　left　her　room　reached
us　in　the　silence。　I　remained　at　the　open　door　of　the
dining…room；　and　Maria　approached　and　stood　near　me。　We　were　both
frightened。　Euneece　stepped　forward；　and　stood　on　the　mat　at　the
foot　of　the　stairs；　waiting。　Her　back　was　toward　me；　I　could　only
see　that　she　was　as　still　as　a　statue。　The　rustling　of　the　dress
came　nearer。　Oh；　heavens！　what　was　going　to　happen？　My　teeth
chattered　in　my　head；　I　held　by　Maria's　shoulder。　Drops　of
perspiration　showed　themselves　on　the　girl's　forehead；　she　stared
in　vacant　terror　at　the　slim　little　figure；　posted　firm　and　still
on　the　mat。

Helena　turned　the　corner　of　the　stairs；　and　waited　a　moment　on
the　last　landing；　and　saw　her　sister。

〃You　here？〃　she　said。　〃What　do　you　want？〃

There　was　no　reply。　Helena　descended；　until　she　reached　the　last
stair　but　one。　There；　she　stopped。　Her　staring　eyes　grew　large
and　wild；　her　hand　shook　as　she　stretched　it　out；　feeling　for　the
banister；　she　staggered　as　she　caught　at　it；　and　held　herself　up。
The　silence　was　still　unbroken。　Something　in　me；　stronger　than
myself；　drew　my　steps　along　the　hall　nearer　and　nearer　to　the
stair；　till　I　could　see　the　face　which　had　struck　that　murderous
wretch　with　terror。

I　looked。

No！　it　was　not　my　sweet　girl；　it　was　a　horrid　transformation　of
her。　I　saw　a　fearful　creature；　with　glittering　eyes　that
threatened　some　unimaginable　vengeance。　Her　lips　were　drawn　back；
they　showed　her　clinched　teeth。　A　burning　red　flush　dyed　her
face。　The　hair　of　her　head　rose；　little　by　little；　slowly。　And；
most　dreadful　sight　of　all；　she　seemed；　in　the　stillness　of　the
house；　to　be　_listening　to　something。_　If　I　could　have　moved；　I
should　have　fled　to　the　first　place　of　refuge　I　could　find。　If　I
could　have　raised　my　voice；　I　should　have　cried　for　help。　I　could
do　neither　the　one　nor　the　other。　I　could　only　look；　look；　look；
held　by　the　horror　of　it　with　a　hand　of　iron。

Helena　must　have　roused　her　courage；　and　resisted　her　terror。　I
heard　her　speak：

〃Let　me　by！〃

〃No。〃

Slowly；　steadily；　in　a　whisper；　Euneece　made　that　reply。

Helena　tried　once　morestill　fighting　against　her　own　terror：　I
knew　it　by　the　trembling　of　her　voice。

〃Let　me　by；〃　she　repeated；　〃I　am　on　my　way　to　Philip's　room。〃

〃You　will　never　enter　Philip's　room　again。〃

〃Who　will　stop　me？〃

〃I　will。〃

She　had　spoken　in　the　same　steady　whisper　throughoutbut　now　she
moved。　I　saw　her　set　her　foot　on　the　first　stair。　I　saw　the
horrid　glitter　in　her　eyes　flash　close　into　Helena's　face。　I
heard　her　say：

〃Poisoner；　go　back　to　your　room。〃

Silent　and　shuddering；　Helena　shrank　away　from　herdaunted　by
her　glittering　eyes；　mastered　by　her　lifted　hand　pointing　up　the
stairs。

Helena　slowly　ascended　till　she　reached　the　landing。　She　turned
and　looked　down；　she　tried　to　speak。　The　pointing　hand　struck　her
dumb；　and　drove　her　up　the　next　flight　of　stairs。　She　was　lost　to
view。　Only　the　small　rustling　sound　of　the　dress　was　to　be　heard；
growing　fainter　and　fainter；　then　an　interval　of　stillness；　then
the　noise　of　a　door　opened　and　closed　again；　then　no　sound
morebut　a　change　to　be　seen：　the　transformed　creature　was　cr
ouching　on　her　knees；　still　and　silent；　her　face　covered　by　her
hands。　I　was　afraid　to　approach　her；　I　was　afraid　to　speak　to
her。　After　a　time；　she　rose。　Suddenly；　swiftly；　with　her　head
turned　away　from　me；　she　opened　the　door　of　Philip's　roomand
was　gone。

I　looked　round。　There　was　only　Maria　in　the　lonely　hall。　Shall　I
try　to　tell　you　what　my　sensations　were？　It　may　sound　strangely；
but　it　is　trueI　felt　like　a　sleeper；　who　has　half…awakened　from
a　dream。


CHAPTER　LX。

DISCOVERY。


A　LITTLE　later；　on　that　eventful　day；　when　I　was　most　in　need　of
all　that　your　wisdom　and　kindness　could　do　to　guide　me；　came　the
telegram　which　announced　that　you　were　helpless　under　an　attack
of　gout。　As　soon　as　I　had　in　some　degree　got　over　my
disappointment；　I　remembered　having　told　Euneece　in　my　letter
that　I　expected　her　kind　old　friend　to　come　to　us。　With　the
telegram　in　my　hand　I　knocked　softly　at　Philip's　door。

The　voice　that　bade　me　come　in　was　the　gentle　voice　that　I　knew
so　well。　Philip　was　sleeping。　There；　by　his　bedside；　with　his
hand　resting　in　her　hand；　was　Euneece；　so　completely　restored　to
her　own　sweet　self　that　I　could　hardly　believe　what　I　had　seen；
not　an　hour　since。　She　talked　of　you；　when　I　showed　her　your
message；　with　affectionate　interest　and　regret。　Look　back；　my
admirable　friend；　at　what　I　have　written　on　the　two　or　three
pages　which　precede　this；　and　explain　the　astounding　contrast　if
you　can。

I　was　left　alone　to　watch　by　Philip；　while　Euneece　went　away　to
see　her　father。　Soon　afterward；　Maria　took　my　place；　I　had　been
sent　for　to　the　next　room　to　receive　the　doctor。

He　looked　care…worn　and　grieved。　I　said　I　was　afraid　he　had
brought　bad　news　with　him。

〃The　worst　possible　news；〃　he　answered。　〃A　terrible　exposure
threatens　this　family；　and　I　am　powerless　to　prevent　it；〃

He　then　asked　me　to　remember　the　day　when　I　had　been　surprised　by
the　singular　questions　which　he　had　put　to　me；　and　when　he　had
engaged　to　explain　himself　after　he　had　made　some　inquiries。　Why；
and　how；　he　had　set　those　inquiries　on　foot　was　what　he　had　now
to　tell。　I　will　repeat　what　he　said；　in　his　own　words；　as　nearly
as　I　can　remember　them。　While　he　was　in　attendance　on　Philip；　he
had　observed　symptoms　which　made　him　suspect　that　Digitalis　had
been　given　to　the　young　man；　in　doses　often　repeated。　Cases　of
attempted　poisoning　by　this　medicine　were　so　rare；　that　he　felt
bound　to　put　his　suspicions　to　the　test　by　going　round　among　the
chemists's　shopsexcepting　of　course　the　shop　at　which　his　own
prescriptions　were　made　upand　asking　if　they　had　lately
dispensed　any　preparation　of　Digitalis；　ordered　perhaps　in　a
larger　quantity　than　usual。　At　the　second　shop　he　visited；　the
chemist　laughed。　〃Why；　doctor；〃　he　said；　〃have　you　forgotten　your
own　prescription？〃　After　this；　the　prescription　was　asked　for；
and　produced。　It　was　on　the　paper　used　by　the　doctorpaper　which
had　his　add