Dr. Rumsey's patient : $b a very strange storyMeade, L. T.
General
Dr. Rumsey's patient : $b a very strange story
Meade, L. T.
Physician and patient -- Fiction
"You'll feel better afterward," said Awdrey. "Try and remember that in
the awful struggle and ordeal of the next few minutes your soul and mine
will be born again--they will be saved--saved from the power of evil. Be
brave, Hetty. You told me to-night that you loved me--prove the
greatness of your love by helping me to save my own soul and yours."
"I wonder if this is true," said Hetty. "You seem to lift me out of
myself." She spoke in a sort of dull wonder.
"It is true--it is right--it is the only thing; come at once."
She did not say any more, nor make the least resistance. They left the
office together. They trod softly on the gravel path which led to the
main entrance of the old house. They both entered the hall side by side.
Hetty looked pale and untidy; her hair fell partly down her back; there
were undried tears on her cheeks; her eyes had a wild and startled gleam
in them; the Squire was also deadly pale, but he was quiet and composed.
The fierce struggle which had nearly rent his soul in two was completely
over at that moment. In the calm there was also peace, and the peace had
settled on his face.
Mrs. Henessey was standing in the wide entrance hall. She started when
she saw her brother; then she glanced at Hetty, then she looked again at
the Squire.
"Why, Robert!" she said, "Robert!"
There was an expression about Hetty's face and about Awdrey's face which
silenced and frightened her.
"What is it?" she said in a low voice, "what is wrong?"
"Where are the others?" asked the Squire. "I want to see them all
immediately."
"They are in the front drawing-room--Margaret, Dr. Rumsey, Dorothy, my
husband and Dorothy's, and Margaret's uncle, Mr. Cuthbert."
"I am glad he is there; we shall want a magistrate," said Awdrey.
"A magistrate! What is the matter?"
"You will know in a moment, Anne. Did you say Rumsey was in the
drawing-room?"
"Yes; they are all there. Margaret is playing the "Moonlight
Sonata"--you hear it, don't you through the closed doors--she played so
mournfully that I ran away--I hate music that affects me to tears."
Awdrey bent down and said a word to Hetty; then he looked at his sister.
"I am going into the drawing-room, and Hetty Vincent will come with me,"
he said.
"I used to know you as Hetty Armitage," said Anne. "How are you, Hetty?"
"She is not well," answered Awdrey for her, "but she will tell you
presently. Come into the drawing-room, too, Anne; I should like you to
be present."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account