the queen of hearts-第91章

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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　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。