Part 31 (2/2)
After she had gone and Ellen was once more in bed, Melvina tried in vain to quiet the increasing restlessness of her patient, but all attempts to soothe the invalid were without avail. Tossing from side to side on the pillows, her fingers picking nervously at the coverings, Ellen stared into the darkness, breaking from time to time into fragments of angry dialogue.
The benediction of the evening's peace, musical with the rustling of leaves and laden with the perfume of blossoming vines, brought no solace to her heart. Presently, unable to endure the silence longer, she started up.
”Melviny,” she called to the woman sitting beside her.
The nurse rose from the deepening gloom and stood erect in the moonlight, her figure throwing upon the whitewashed wall a distorted, specterlike silhouette.
”Yes, marm.”
”Is Lucy still outdoors?”
”Yes.”
Ellen waited an instant; then she said:
”There's somethin' in her room I want you should get for me.”
”All right, Miss Webster.”
”It's a long white envelope. You'll find it somewheres. It'll likely be in her desk or the table drawer. It's sealed with red wax. You'll know it when you come across it.”
Although Melvina nodded, she did not move.
”You needn't be afraid to fetch it,” explained Ellen querulously. ”It's mine. I gave it to Lucy to keep for me.”
”I see.”
Melvina started promptly on her quest.
”Don't be all night about it,” was Ellen's parting admonition.
While the messenger was gone, the invalid gave vent to her impatience by drumming rhythmically on the wooden edge of the bedstead, and this measured tattoo increased in speed until it beat time with the feverish bounding of her pulse and the throbbing of her heart.
”Ain't you found it yet?” she shouted at last.
”Yes, I've just come on it. It was under----”
”No matter where it was. Bring it here.”
”I'm comin'.”
Bearing the envelope, Melvina appeared in the doorway.
”Let me see it,” said Ellen.
She took it in her hand and, while Melvina held the candle, examined the package critically.
”Humph!” she muttered. ”It's good as new.”
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