England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Married people -- Fiction; Mystery fiction
“The doctor seemed no better able to account for the change for the
worse in his patient than we were. Hearing her complain of thirst, he
gave her some milk. Not long after taking it she was sick. The sickness
appeared to relieve her. She soon grew drowsy and slumbered. Mr. Gale
left us, with strict injunctions to send for him instantly if she was
taken ill again.
“Nothing of the sort happened; no change took place for the next three
hours or more. She roused up toward half-past nine and inquired about
her husband. I informed her that he had returned to his own room, and
asked if I should send for him. She said ‘No.’ I asked next if she would
like anything to eat or drink. She said ‘No’ again, in rather a vacant,
stupefied way, and then told me to go downstairs and get my breakfast.
On my way down I met the housekeeper. She invited me to breakfast with
her in her room, instead of in the servants’ hall as usual. I remained
with the housekeeper but a short time--certainly not more than half an
hour.
“Coming upstairs again, I met the under-housemaid sweeping on one of the
landings.
“The girl informed me that Mrs. Macallan had taken a cup of tea during
my absence in the housekeeper’s room. Mr. Macallan’s valet had ordered
the tea for his mistress by his master’s directions. The under-housemaid
made it, and took it upstairs herself to Mrs. Macallan’s room. Her
master, she said, opened the door when she knocked, and took the tea-cup
from her with his own hand. He opened the door widely enough for her to
see into the bedroom, and to notice that nobody was with Mrs. Macallan
but himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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