Dr. Rumsey's Patient

was shown into Dr. Rumsey's presence. She found him in his c

hing this punctuality is in a woman. Sit down, pray. You shall ha

n to smile. She untied her bonnet-strings, threw

tablishing my boy's"-she wet her lips-"my only boy's innocence? Nothing that can happen now will ever, of course, repair what he has lost-his lost youth, his lost healthy outlook on life-but to set him free, even now!

a kind voice. "I know," he added, "you w

, her somewhat long arms hung at her sides, she turned

en my sleep is broken by terrible dreams. All the energy which I possess is fixed

said Dr

a queer thing. I determined to visit Gr

ctor s

s. Everett; "nevertheless I

explain. I qui

ny one, and arrived at the Inn just as the dusk was setting in. The landlord, Armitage by name, came out to interview me. I told him who I was. He looked much distur

that you like to co

his death. I am drawn to this place by the greatest agony which has ever torn a mothe

e nodded to him, and the next moment I was given to understand that my son's old room would be at my disposal. I took possession of i

something in the gait which I seemed to recognize, although at first I had only a dim idea that I had ever seen her before. Hurrying my footsteps I came up to her, passed her, and as I did so looked her full in the face. I started then and stopped short. She was the girl who had seen the murder committed, and who had given evidence of the most damnatory kind agains

u?' she said

of the man who once lodged in your uncle's house, and who

ed at first, now

I continued, 'is

son is expatiating the cr

o his heart, and there is no murder there. B

about three miles from Grandcourt, over in that direction. I am

I said, for I noticed her shabby

times for farme

children?

fiercely, 'I am gla

'Surely a child is the crown

d. 'My heart is full to the brim.

ly means happiness,' I

me a que

sorrow.' Her eyes looked quite wild. She pressed one of her hand

Mrs. Everett,' she said.

ich you perhaps can guess. If you are poor you will not despise half a sovereign. I'll g

ite to red, and fro

eep bad, and sometimes I dream. Many and many a time I've seen that murder committed over again. I have seen the

two hands hard

d recovered her emotion; then

ke me to the

the coin sudde

can drown thought with this. Come along, ma'am, we are not ver

t of tremulous movement, as though she were not quite certain of herself. We crossed the Plain not far

d woman, and you take my breath away.' She

not often at the

t-'since the old Squire died th

he present Squire an

a furtive glance, and then pressing o

an tell me summ'at-

prised at the tone of her voice. 'I sh

t Mr. Robert is happy,' sh

otsteps; at last she stood sti

tered by the alders, and even if the night had not been so dark they would never have noticed me

you one or two questions. You

, ma'am,' s

rder was com

ow a bit greener-you notice it, do

press. 'Do you mind telling me how it was that you happe

her lips tightly. I gazed full

was my lover-we had just had

at a

secret,' s

ntion the fact of the quar

ked full

our feet are planted, and I saw it done-the moon came out for a minute, and I saw everything-even to the look on the d

eplied. 'You may leave me

is that

rk eyes. I saw fea

was murdered, was Horace Frere, but the other man, as there is a God

ifying. The wretched creature fell on her knees-she clung to my dres

ped. 'How do you know? Who has told you?

tly silent, but with my heart beating with t

trembling to her feet. I l

mething to co

me again and bu

to confess; what could I have? You spoke so solemn and the place is

was Horace Frere-the other was your son, Frank Everett.' Before I coul

left home that morning; that she often did so to visit a relation at a distance. I asked for the address, which was given me somewhat unwillingly. That night I went there, but Hetty had not arrived and nothing was known about her. Since then I have tried in vain to

mained silent

as obliged to take in the trial. She has probably dreamt of this thing, and dwelt upon it year in and year out, since it happened. Then, remember, you spoke in a very startling manner and practically accused her of having committed perjury at the time of the trial. Under such circumstances and in the surroundings she was in at the time, she would be very likely to lose her head. As to her sudden disappearance, I confess I cannot q

carefully cons

orry if it di

h you." Mrs. Everett rose as she spoke, fast

e reasoner, but also of a person who is

ey s

e ought to be the one to b

tinct. I will not detain you longer, Dr. Rumse