第49章

Hergriefwasterrible。Shedughernailsintoherscalp，andclutchingtheheavycoilsofherthickblackhairtoreitagainandagain。Shestruckherforeheadwithherclenchedfists。Herlittlebodyshookfromheadtofootwiththeviolenceofhersobbing。Shegroundhersmallteethtogetherandbeatherheaduponthefloorwithallherstrength。

Herhairwasuncoiledandhangingatangled，dishevelledmassfarbelowherwaist；herdresswastorn；aspotofbloodwasuponherforehead；hereyeswereswollen；hercheeksflamedvermilionfromthefeverthatragedinherveins。OldMissBakerfoundherthustowardsfiveo’clockthenextmorning。

Whathadhappenedbetweenoneo’clockanddawnofthatfearfulnightTrinaneverremembered。Shecouldonlyrecallherself，asinapicture，kneelingbeforeherbrokenandrifledtrunk，andthen——weekslater，soitseemedtoher——

shewoketofindherselfinherownbedwithanicedbandageaboutherforeheadandthelittleolddressmakeratherside，strokingherhot，drypalm。

ThefactsofthematterwerethattheGermanwomanwholivedbelowhadbeenawakenedsomehoursaftermidnightbythesoundsofTrina’sweeping。ShehadcomeupstairsandintotheroomtofindTrinastretchedfacedownwarduponthefloor，half-consciousandsobbing，inthethroesofanhysteriaforwhichtherewasnorelief。Thewoman，terrified，hadcalledherhusband，andbetweenthemtheyhadgotTrinauponthebed。ThentheGermanwomanhappenedtorememberthatTrinahadfriendsinthebigflatnearby，andhadsentherhusbandtofetchtheretireddressmaker，whilesheherselfremainedbehindtoundressTrinaandputhertobed。MissBakerhadcomeoveratonce，andbegantocryherselfatthesightofthedentist’spoorlittlewife。Shedidnotstoptoaskwhatthetroublewas，andindeeditwouldhavebeenuselesstoattempttogetanycoherentexplanationfromTrinaatthattime。MissBakerhadsenttheGermanwoman’shusbandtogetsomeiceatoneofthe“all-night“restaurantsofthestreet；hadkeptcold，wettowelsonTrina’shead；hadcombedandrecombedherwonderfulthickhair；andhadsatdownbythesideofthebed，holdingherhothand，withitspoormaimedfingers，waitingpatientlyuntilTrinashouldbeabletospeak。

TowardsmorningTrinaawoke——orperhapsitwasamereregainingofconsciousness——lookedamomentatMissBaker，thenabouttheroomuntilhereyesfelluponhertrunkwithitsbrokenlock。Thensheturnedoveruponthepillowandbegantosobagain。Sherefusedtoansweranyofthelittledressmaker’squestions，shakingherheadviolently，herfacehiddeninthepillow。

BybreakfasttimeherfeverhadincreasedtosuchapointthatMissBakertookmattersintoherownhandsandhadtheGermanwomancalladoctor。Hearrivedsometwentyminuteslater。Hewasabig，kindlyfellowwholivedoverthedrugstoreonthecorner。Hehadadeepvoiceandatremendousstridinggaitlesssuggestiveofaphysicianthanofasergeantofacavalrytroop。

BythetimeofhisarrivallittleMissBakerhaddivinedintuitivelytheentiretrouble。Sheheardthedoctor’sswingingtrampintheentrybelow，andheardtheGermanwomansaying：

“Righdoopderstairs，atderbackofderhalle。Derroommitderdooroppen。“

MissBakermetthedoctoratthelanding，shetoldhiminawhisperofthetrouble。

“Herhusband’sdesertedher，I’