第9章

Isaid，’No；youstopathome，andlookafterthehouseandtheparish，andI’llbringthechildback。’Youshallhaveyouroldbedroom，Valeria，withthewhitecurtains，youknow，loopedupwithblue！WewillreturntotheVicarage（ifyoucangetupintime）bythenine—fortytrainto—morrowmorning。"

ReturntotheVicarage！HowcouldIdothat？HowcouldIhopetogainwhatwasnowtheoneobjectofmyexistenceifIburiedmyselfinaremotenorth—countryvillage？ItwassimplyimpossibleformetoaccompanyDoctorStarkweatheronhisreturntohisownhouse。

"Ithankyou，uncle，withallmyheart，"Isaid。"ButIamafraidIcan’tleaveLondonforthepresent。"

"Youcan’tleaveLondonforthepresent？"herepeated。"Whatdoesthegirlmean，Mr。Benjamin？"Benjaminevadedadirectreply。

"Sheiskindlywelcomehere，DoctorStarkweather，"hesaid，"aslongasshechoosestostaywithme。"

"That’snoanswer，"retortedmyuncle，inhisrough—and—readyway。Heturnedtome。"WhatistheretokeepyouinLondon？"heasked。"YouusedtohateLondon。Isupposethereissomereason？"

ItwasonlyduetomygoodguardianandfriendthatIshouldtakehimintomyconfidencesoonerorlater。Therewasnohelpforitbuttorousemycourage，andtellhimfranklywhatIhaditinmymindtodo。Thevicarlistenedinbreathlessdismay。HeturnedtoBenjamin，withdistressaswellassurpriseinhisface，whenI

haddone。

"Godhelpher！"criedtheworthyman。"Thepoorthing’stroubleshaveturnedherbrain！"

"Ithoughtyouwoulddisapproveofit，sir，"saidBenjamin，inhismildandmoderateway。"IconfessIdisapproveofitmyself。"

"’Disapproveofit’isn’ttheword，"retortedthevicar。"Don’tputitinthatfeebleway，ifyouplease。Anactofmadness——that’swhatitis，ifshereallymeanwhatshesays。"Heturnedmyway，andlookedasheusedtolookattheafternoonservicewhenhewascatechisinganobstinatechild。"Youdon’tmeanit，"hesaid，"doyou？"

"Iamsorrytoforfeityourgoodopinion，uncle，"Ireplied。"ButImustownthatIdocertainlymeanit。"

"InplainEnglish，"retortedthevicar，"youareconceitedenoughtothinkthatyoucansucceedwherethegreatestlawyersinScotlandhavefailed。_They_couldn’tprovethisman’sinnocence，allworkingtogether。And_you_aregoingtoproveitsingle—handed？Uponmyword，youareawonderfulwoman，"criedmyuncle，suddenlydescendingfromindignationtoirony。"Mayaplaincountryparson，whoisn’tusedtolawyersinpetticoats，bepermittedtoaskhowyoumeantodoit？"

"ImeantobeginbyreadingtheTrial，uncle。"

"Nicereadingforayoungwoman！YouwillbewantingabatchofnastyFrenchnovelsnext。Well，andwhenyouhavereadtheTrial——whatthen？Haveyouthoughtofthat？"

"Yes，uncle；Ihavethoughtofthat。Ishallfirsttrytoformsomeconclusion（afterreadingtheTrial）astotheguiltypersonwhoreallycommittedthecrime。ThenIshallmakeoutalistofthewitnesseswhospokeinmyhusband’sdefense。Ishallgotothosewitnesses，andtellthemwhoIamandwhatIwant。Ishallaskallsortsofquestionswhichgravelawyersmightthinkitbeneaththeirdignitytoput。Ishallbeguided，inwhatIdonext，bytheanswersIreceive。AndIshallnotbediscouraged，nomatterwhatdifficultiesarethrowninmyway。Thosearemyplans，uncle，sofarasIknowthemnow。"

ThevicarandBenjaminlookedateachotherasiftheydoubtedtheevidenceoftheirownsenses。Thevicarspoke。

"Doyoumeantotellme，"hesaid，"thatyouaregoingroamingaboutthecountrytothrowyourselfonthemercyofstrangers，andtoriskwhateverroughreceptionyoumaygetinthecourseofyourtravels？You！Ayoungwoman！Desertedbyyourhusband！Withnobodytoprotectyou！Mr。Benjamin，doyouhearher？Andcanyoubelieveyourears？IdeclaretoHeaven_I_don’tknowwhetherI

amawakeordreaming。Lookather——justlookather！Thereshesitsascoolandeasyasifshehadsaidnothingatallextraordinary，andwasgoingtodonothingoutofthecommonway！

WhatamItodowithher？——that’stheseriousquestion——whatonearthamItodowithher？"

"Letmetrymyexperiment，uncle，rashasitmaylooktoyou，"I

said。"Nothingelsewillcomfortandsupportme；andGodknowsI

wantcomfortandsupport。Don’tthinkmeobstinate。Iamreadytoadmitthatthereareseriousdifficultiesinmyway。"

Thevicarresumedhisironicaltone。

"Oh！"hesaid。"Youadmitthat，doyou？Well，thereissomethinggained，atanyrate。"

"Manyanotherwomanbeforeme，"Iwenton，"hasfacedseriousdifficulties，andhasconqueredthem——forthesakeofthemansheloved。"

DoctorStarkweatherroseslowlytohisfeet，withtheairofapersonwhosecapacityoftolerationhadreacheditslastlimits。

"AmItounderstandthatyouarestillinlovewithMr。EustaceMacallan？"heasked。

"Yes，"Ianswered。

"TheheroofthegreatPoisonTrial？"pursuedmyuncle。"Themanwhohasdeceivedanddesertedyou？Youlovehim？"

"Ilovehimmoredearlythanever。"

"Mr。Benjamin，"saidthevicar，"ifsherecoverhersensesbetweenthisandnineo’clockto—morrowmorning，sendherwithherluggagetoLoxley’sHotel，whereIamnowstaying。

Good—night，Valeria。Ishallconsultwithyourauntastowhatistobedonenext。Ihavenomoretosay。"

"Givemeakiss，uncle，atparting。"

"Ohyes，I’llgiveyouakiss。Anythingyoulike，Valeria。I

shallbesixty—fivenextbirthday；andIthoughtIknewsomethingofwomen，atmytimeoflife。ItseemsIknownothing。Loxley’sHotelistheaddress，Mr。Benjamin。Good—night。"

BenjaminlookedverygravewhenhereturnedtomeafteraccompanyingDoctorStarkweathertothegardengate。

"Praybeadvised，mydear，"hesaid。"Idon’taskyoutoconsider_my_viewofthismatter，asgoodformuch。Butyouruncle’sopinionissurelyworthconsidering？"

Ididnotreply。Itwasuselesstosayanymore。Imadeupmymindtobemisunderstoodanddiscouraged，andtobearit。

"Good—night，mydearoldfriend，"wasallIsaidtoBenjamin。

ThenIturnedaway——Iconfesswiththetearsinmyeyes——andtookrefugeinmybedroom。

Thewindow—blindwasup，andtheautumnmoonlightshonebrilliantlyintothelittleroom。

AsIstoodbythewindow，lookingout，thememorycametomeofanothermoonlightnight，whenEustaceandIwerewalkingtogetherintheVicaragegardenbeforeourmarriage。ItwasthenightofwhichIhavewritten，manypagesback，whentherewereobstaclestoourunion，andwhenEustacehadofferedtoreleasemefrommyengagementtohim。Isawthedearfaceagainlookingatmeinthemoonlight；Iheardoncemorehiswordsandmine。"Forgiveme，"hehadsaid，"forhavinglovedyou——passionately，devotedlylovedyou。Forgiveme，andletmego。"

AndIhadanswered，"Oh，Eustace，Iamonlyawoman——don’tmaddenme！Ican’tlivewithoutyou。Imustandwillbeyourwife！"Andnow，aftermarriagehadunitedus，wewereparted！Parted，stilllovingeachaspassionatelyasever。Andwhy？Becausehehadbeenaccusedofacrimethathehadnevercommitted，andbecauseaScotchjuryhadfailedtoseethathewasaninnocentman。

Ilookedatthelovelymoonlight，pursuingtheseremembrancesandthesethoughts。Anewardorburnedinme。"No！"Isaidtomyself。

"Neitherrelationsnorfriendsshallprevailonmetofalterandfailinmyhusband’scause。

Theassertionofhisinnocenceistheworkofmylife；Iwillbeginitto—night。"

Idrewdowntheblindandlightedthecandles。Inthequietnight，aloneandunaided，Itookmyfirststeponthetoilsomeandterriblejourneythatlaybeforeme。Fromthetitle—pagetotheend，withoutstoppingtorestandwithoutmissingaword，I

readtheTrialofmyhusbandforthemurderofhiswife。

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PARTII。

PARADISEREGAINED。

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CHAPTERXV。

THESTORYOFTHETRIAL。THEPRELIMINARIES。

LETmeconfessanotherweakness，onmypart，beforeIbegintheStoryoftheTrial。Icannotprevailuponmyselftocopy，forthesecondtime，thehorribletitle—pagewhichholdsuptopublicignominymyhusband’sname。Ihavecopieditonceinmytenthchapter。Letoncebeenough。

TurningtothesecondpageoftheTrial，IfoundaNote，assuringthereaderoftheabsolutecorrectnessoftheReportoftheProceedings。Thecompilerdescribedhimselfashavingenjoyedcertainspecialprivileges。Thus，thepresidingJudgehadhimselfrevisedhischargetothejury。And，again，thechieflawyersfortheprosecutionandthedefense，followingtheJudge’sexample，hadrevisedtheirspeechesforandagainsttheprisoner。Lastly，particularcarehadbeentakentosecurealiterallycorrectreportoftheevidencegivenbythevariouswitnesses。ItwassomerelieftometodiscoverthisNote，andtobesatisfiedattheoutsetthattheStoryoftheTrialwas，ineveryparticular，fullyandtrulygiven。

Thenextpageinterestedmemorenearlystill。ItenumeratedtheactorsintheJudicialDrama——themenwhoheldintheirhandsmyhusband’shonorandmyhusband’slife。HereistheList：

THELORDJUSTICECLERK，}

LORDDRUMFENNICK，}JudgesontheBench。

LORDNOBLEKIRK，}

THELORDADVOCATE（Mintlaw），}DONALDDREW，Esquire（Advocate—Depute）。}CounselfortheCrown。

MR。JAMESARLISS，W。S。，AgentfortheCrown。

THEDEANOFFACULTY（Farmichael），}CounselforthePanelALEXANDERCROCKET，Esquire（Advocate），}（otherwisethePrisoner）

MR。THORNIEBANK，W。S。，}

MR。PLAYMORE，W。S。，}AgentsforthePanel。

TheIndictmentagainsttheprisonerthenfollowed。Ishallnotcopytheuncouthlanguage，fullofneedlessrepetitions（and，ifIknowanythingofthesubject，notguiltlessofbadgrammaraswell），inwhichmyinnocenthusbandwassolemnlyandfalselyaccusedofpoisoninghisfirstwife。ThelessthereisofthatfalseandhatefulIndictmentonthispage，thebetterandtruerthepagewilllook，to_my_eyes。

Tobebrief，then，EustaceMacallanwas"indictedandaccused，attheinstanceofDavidMintlaw，Esquire，HerMajesty’sAdvocate，forHerMajesty’sinterest，"oftheMurderofhisWifebypoison，athisresidencecalledGleninch，inthecountyofMid—Lothian。

ThepoisonwasallegedtohavebeenwickedlyandfeloniouslygivenbytheprisonertohiswifeSara，ontwooccasions，intheformofarsenic，administeredintea，medicine，"orotherarticleorarticlesoffoodordrink，totheprosecutorunknown。"Itwasfurtherdeclaredthattheprisoner’swifehaddiedofthepoisonthusadministeredbyherhusband，ononeorother，orboth，ofthestatedoccasions；andthatshewasthusmurderedbyherhusband。ThenextparagraphassertedthatthesaidEustaceMacallan，takenbeforeJohnDaviot，Esquire，advocate，Sheriff—SubstituteofMid—Lothian，didinhispresenceatEdinburgh（onagivendate，viz。，the29thofOctober），subscribeaDeclarationstatinghisinnocenceoftheallegedcrime：thisDeclarationbeingreservedintheIndictment——togetherwithcertaindocuments，papersandarticles，enumeratedinanInventory——tobeusedinevidenceagainsttheprisoner。TheIndictmentconcludedbydeclaringthat，intheeventoftheoffensechargedagainsttheprisonerbeingfoundprovenbytheVerdict，he，thesaidEustaceMacallan，"oughttobepunishedwiththepainsofthelaw，todeterothersfromcommittinglikecrimesinalltimecoming。"

SomuchfortheIndictment！Ihavedonewithit——andIamrejoicedtobedonewithit。

AnInventoryofpapers，documents，andarticlesfollowedatgreatlengthonthenextthreepages。This，initsturn，wassucceededbythelistofthewitnesses，andbythenamesofthejurors（fifteeninnumber）ballotedfortotrythecase。Andthen，atlast，theReportoftheTrialbegan。Itresolveditself，tomymind，intothreegreatQuestions。Asitappearedtomeatthetime，soletmepresentithere。

CHAPTERXVI。

FIRSTQUESTION——DIDTHEWOMANDIEPOISONED？

THEproceedingsbeganatteno’clock。TheprisonerwasplacedattheBar，beforetheHighCourtofJusticiary，atEdinburgh。HebowedrespectfullytotheBench，andpleadedNotGuilty，inalowvoice。

Itwasobservedbyeveryonepresentthattheprisoner’sfacebetrayedtracesofacutementalsuffering。Hewasdeadlypale。

HiseyesneveroncewanderedtothecrowdintheCourt。Whencertainwitnessesappearedagainsthim，helookedatthemwithamomentaryattention。Atothertimeshekepthiseyesontheground。Whentheevidencetouchedonhiswife’sillnessanddeath，hewasdeeplyaffected，andcoveredhisfacewithhishands。Itwasasubjectofgeneralremarkandgeneralsurprisethattheprisoner，inthiscase（althoughaman），showedfarlessself—possessionthanthelastprisonertriedinthatCourtformurder——awoman，whohadbeenconvictedonoverwhelmingevidence。

Therewerepersonspresent（asmallminorityonly）whoconsideredthiswantofcomposureonthepartoftheprisonertobeasigninhisfavor。Self—possession，inhisdreadfulposition，signified，totheirminds，thestarkinsensibilityofaheartlessandshamelesscriminal，andaffordedinitselfapresumption，notofinnocence，butofguilt。

ThefirstwitnesscalledwasJohnDaviot，Esquire，Sheriff—SubstituteofMid—Lothian。HewasexaminedbytheLordAdvocate（ascounselfortheprosecution）；andsaid：

"Theprisonerwasbroughtbeforemeonthepresentcharge。HemadeandsubscribedaDeclarationonthe29thofOctober。Itwasfreelyandvoluntarilymade，theprisonerhavingbeenfirstdulywarnedandadmonished。"

HavingidentifiedtheDeclaration，theSheriff—Substitute——beingcross—examinedbytheDeanofFaculty（ascounselforthedefense）——continuedhisevidenceinthesewords：

"ThechargeagainsttheprisonerwasMurder。ThiswascommunicatedtohimbeforehemadetheDeclaration。Thequestionsaddressedtotheprisonerwereputpartlybyme，partlybyanotherofficer，theprocurator—fiscal。Theanswersweregivendistinctly，and，sofarasIcouldjudge，withoutreserve。ThestatementsputforwardintheDeclarationwereallmadeinanswertoquestionsaskedbytheprocurator—fiscalorbymyself。"

AclerkintheSheriff—Clerk’sofficethenofficiallyproducedtheDeclaration，andcorroboratedtheevidenceofthewitnesswhohadprecededhim。

TheappearanceofthenextwitnesscreatedamarkedsensationintheCourt。ThiswasnolessapersonthanthenursewhohadattendedMrs。Macallaninherlastillness——bynameChristinaOrmsay。

Afterthefirstformalanswers，thenurse（examinedbytheLordAdvocate）proceededtosay：

"Iwasfirstsentfortoattendthedeceasedladyonthe7thofOctober。Shewasthensufferingfromaseverecold，accompaniedbyarheumaticaffectionoftheleftknee—joint。PrevioustothisIunderstoodthatherhealthhadbeenfairlygood。Shewasnotaverydifficultpersontonursewhenyougotusedtoher，andunderstoodhowtomanageher。Themaindifficultywascausedbyhertemper。Shewasnotasullenperson；shewasheadstrongandviolent——easilyexcitedtoflyintoapassion，andquiterecklessinherfitsofangerastowhatshesaidordid。AtsuchtimesI

reallyhardlythinksheknewwhatshewasabout。Myownideaisthathertemperwasmadestillmoreirritablebyunhappinessinhermarriedlife。Shewasfarfrombeingareservedperson。

Indeed，shewasdisposed（asIthought）tobealittletoocommunicativeaboutherselfandhertroubleswithpersonslikemewhowerebeneathherinstation。Shedidnotscruple，forinstance，totellme（whenwehadbeenlongenoughtogethertogetusedtoeachother）thatshewasveryunhappy，andfrettedagooddealaboutherhusband。Onenight，whenshewaswakefulandrestless，shesaidtome——"

TheDeanofFacultyhereinterposed，speakingontheprisoner’sbehalf。HeappealedtotheJudgestosaywhethersuchlooseandunreliableevidenceasthiswasevidencewhichcouldbereceivedbytheCourt。

TheLordAdvocate（speakingonbehalfoftheCrown）claimeditashisrighttoproducetheevidence。Itwasoftheutmostimportanceinthiscasetoshow（onthetestimonyofanunprejudicedwitness）onwhattermsthehusbandandwifewereliving。Thewitnesswasamostrespectablewoman。Shehadwon，anddeserved，theconfidenceoftheunhappyladywhomsheattendedonherdeath—bed。

Afterbrieflyconsultingtogether，theJudgesunanimouslydecidedthattheevidencecouldnotbeadmitted。Whatthewitnesshadherselfseenandobservedoftherelationsbetweenthehusbandandwifewastheonlyevidencethattheycouldreceive。

TheLordAdvocatethereuponcontinuedhisexaminationofthewitness。ChristinaOrmsayresumedherevidenceasfollows：

"MypositionasnurselednecessarilytomyseeingmoreofMrs。

Macallanthananyotherpersoninthehouse。Iamabletospeakfromexperienceofmanythingsnotknowntootherswhowereonlyinherroomatintervals。

"Forinstance，IhadmorethanoneopportunityofpersonallyobservingthatMr。andMrs。Macallandidnotlivetogetherveryhappily。Icangiveyouanexampleofthis，notdrawnfromwhatotherstoldme，butfromwhatInoticedformyself。

"TowardthelatterpartofmyattendanceonMrs。Macallan，ayoungwidowladynamedMrs。Beauly——acousinofMr。

Macallan’s——cametostayatGleninch。Mrs。Macallanwasjealousofthislady；andsheshoweditinmypresenceonlythedaybeforeherdeath，whenMr。Macallancameintoherroomtoinquirehowshehadpassedthenight。’Oh，’shesaid，’nevermindhow_I_

haveslept！WhatdoyoucarewhetherIsleepwellorill？HowhasMrs。Beaulypassedthenight？Isshemorebeautifulthaneverthismorning？Gobacktoher——praygobacktoher！Don’twasteyourtimewithme！’Beginninginthatmanner，sheworkedherselfintooneofherfuriousrages。Iwasbrushingherhairatthetime；andfeelingthatmypresencewasanimproprietyunderthecircumstances，Iattemptedtoleavetheroom。Sheforbademetogo。Mr。Macallanfelt，asIdid，thatmydutywastowithdraw，andhesaidsoinplainwords。Mrs。Macallaninsistedonmystayinginlanguagesoinsolenttoherhusbandthathesaid，’Ifyoucannotcontrolyourself，eitherthenurseleavestheroomorIdo。’Sherefusedtoyieldeventhen。’Agoodexcuse，’shesaid，’forgettingbacktoMrs。Beauly。Go！’Hetookheratherword，andwalkedoutoftheroom。Hehadbarelyclosedthedoorbeforeshebeganrevilinghimtomeinthemostshockingmanner。Shedeclared，amongotherthingsshesaidofhim，thatthenewsofallotherswhichhewouldbemostgladtohearwouldbethenewsofherdeath。Iventured，quiterespectfully，onremonstratingwithher。Shetookupthehair—brushandthrewitatme，andthenandtheredismissedmefrommyattendanceonher。Ilefther，andwaitedbelowuntilherfitofpassionhadwornitselfout。ThenI

returnedtomyplaceatthebedside，andforawhilethingswentonagainasusual。

"ItmaynotbeamisstoaddawordwhichmayhelptoexplainMrs。

Macallan’sjealousyofherhusband’scousin。Mrs。Macallanwasaveryplainwoman。Shehadacastinoneofhereyes，and（ifI

mayusetheexpression）oneofthemostmuddy，blotchycomplexionsitwasevermymisfortunetoseeinaperson’sface。

Mrs。Beauly，ontheotherhand，wasamostattractivelady。Hereyeswereuniversallyadmired，andshehadamostbeautifullyclearanddelicatecolor。PoorMrs。Macallansaidofher，mostuntruly，thatshepainted。

"No；thedefectsinthecomplexionofthedeceasedladywerenotinanywayattributabletoherillness。Ishouldcallthembornandbreddefectsinherself。

"Herillness，ifIamaskedtodescribeit，Ishouldsaywastroublesome——nothingmore。Untilthelastdaytherewerenosymptomsintheleastdegreeseriousaboutthemaladythathadtakenher。Herrheumatickneewaspainful，ofcourse——acutelypainful，ifyoulike——whenshemovedit；andtheconfinementtobedwasirksomeenough，nodoubt。Butotherwisetherewasnothinginthelady’scondition，beforethefatalattackcame，toalarmheroranybodyabouther。Shehadherbooksandherwritingmaterialsonaninvalidtable，whichworkedonapivot，andcouldbearrangedinanypositionmostagreeabletoher。Attimesshereadandwroteagooddeal。Atothertimesshelayquiet，thinkingherownthoughts，ortalkingwithme，andwithoneortwoladyfriendsintheneighborhoodwhocameregularlytoseeher。

"Herwriting，sofarasIknew，wasalmostentirelyofthepoeticalsort。Shewasagreathandatcomposingpoetry。Ononeoccasiononlysheshowedmesomeofherpoems。Iamnojudgeofsuchthings。Herpoetrywasofthedismalkind，despairingaboutherself，andwonderingwhyshehadeverbeenborn，andnonsenselikethat。Herhusbandcameinmorethanonceforsomehardhitsathiscruelheartandhisignoranceofhiswife’smerits。Inshort，sheventedherdiscontentwithherpenaswellaswithhertongue。Thereweretimes——andprettyoftentoo——whenanangelfromheavenwouldhavefailedtohavesatisfiedMrs。Macallan。

"Throughouttheperiodofherillnessthedeceasedladyoccupiedthesameroom——alargebedroomsituated（likeallthebestbedrooms）onthefirstfloorofthehouse。

"Yes：theplanoftheroomnowshowntomeisquiteaccuratelytaken，accordingtomyremembranceofit。Onedoorledintothegreatpassage，orcorridor，onwhichallthedoorsopened。A

seconddoor，atoneside（markedBontheplan），ledtoMr。

Macallan’ssleeping—room。Athirddoor，ontheoppositeside（markedContheplan），communicatedwithalittlestudy，orbook—room，used，asIwastold，byMr。Macallan’smotherwhenshewasstayingatGleninch，butseldomorneverenteredbyanyoneelse。Mr。Macallan’smotherwasnotatGleninchwhileIwasthere。Thedoorbetweenthebedroomandthisstudywaslocked，andthekeywastakenout。Idon’tknowwhohadthekey，orwhetherthereweremorekeysthanoneinexistence。Thedoorwasneveropenedtomyknowledge。Ionlygotintothestudy，tolookatitalongwiththehousekeeper，byenteringthroughaseconddoorthatopenedontothecorridor。

"IbegtosaythatIcanspeakfrommyownknowledgepositivelyaboutMrs。Macallan’sillness，andaboutthesuddenchangewhichendedinherdeath。Bythedoctor’sadviceImadenotesatthetimeofdatesandhours，andsuchlike。Ilookedatmynotesbeforecominghere。

"Fromthe7thofOctober，whenIwasfirstcalledintonurseher，tothe20thofthesamemonth，sheslowlybutsteadilyimprovedinhealth。Herkneewasstillpainful，nodoubt；buttheinflammatorylookofitwasdisappearing。Astotheothersymptoms，exceptweaknessfromlyinginbed，andirritabilityoftemper，therewasreallynothingthematterwithher。Shesleptbadly，Ioughtperhapstoadd。Butweremediedthisbymeansofcomposingdraughtsprescribedforthatpurposebythedoctor。

"Onthemorningofthe21st，atafewminutespastsix，IgotmyfirstalarmthatsomethingwasgoingwrongwithMrs。Macallan。

"IwasawokeatthetimeIhavementionedbytheringingofthehand—bellwhichshekeptonherbed—table。LetmesayformyselfthatIhadonlyfallenasleeponthesofainthebedroomatpasttwointhemorningfromsheerfatigue。Mrs。Macallanwasthenawake。Shewasinoneofherbadhumorswithme。Ihadtriedtoprevailonhertoletmeremoveherdressing—casefromherbed—table，aftershehaduseditinmakinghertoiletforthenight。Ittookupagreatdealofroom；andshecouldnotpossiblywantitagainbeforethemorning。Butno；sheinsistedonmylettingitbe。Therewasaglassinsidethecase；and，plainasshewas，sheneverweariedoflookingatherselfinthatglass。Isawthatshewasinabadstateoftemper，soIgaveherherway，andletthedressing—casebe。Findingthatshewastoosullentospeaktomeafterthat，andtooobstinatetotakehercomposingdraughtfrommewhenIofferedit，Ilaidmedownonthesofaatherbedfoot，andfellasleep，asIhavesaid。

"ThemomentherbellrangIwasupandatthebedside，readytomakemyselfuseful。

"Iaskedwhatwasthematterwithher。Shecomplainedoffaintnessanddepression，andsaidshefeltsick。IinquiredifshehadtakenanythinginthewayofphysicorfoodwhileIhadbeenasleep。Sheansweredthatherhusbandhadcomeinaboutanhoursince，and，findingherstillsleepless，hadhimselfadministeredthecomposingdraught。Mr。Macallan（sleepinginthenextroom）joineduswhileshewasspeaking。Hetoohadbeenarousedbythebell。HeheardwhatMrs。Macallansaidtomeaboutthecomposingdraught，andmadenoremarkuponit。Itseemedtomethathewasalarmedathiswife’sfaintness。Isuggestedthatsheshouldtakealittlewine，orbrandyandwater。Sheansweredthatshecouldswallownothingsostrongaswineorbrandy，havingaburningpaininherstomachalready。Iputmyhandonherstomach——quitelightly。ShescreamedwhenItouchedher。