Part 69 (1/2)

”Mad?”

Flippant and familiar, the doctor imitated her; he too looked at the bed.

”No more mad than you are, miss. As I said just now, my patient has been exciting herself; I daresay she has talked a little wildly in consequence. _Hers_ isn't a brain to give way, I can tell you. But there's somebody else--”

Emily had fled from the room. He had destroyed her last fragment of belief in Mirabel's innocence. She was on the landing trying to console herself, when the doctor joined her.

”Are you acquainted with the gentleman downstairs?” he asked.

”What gentleman?”

”I haven't heard his name; he looks like a clergyman. If you know him--”

”I do know him. I can't answer questions! My mind--”

”Steady your mind, miss! and take your friend home as soon as you can.

_He_ hasn't got Mrs. Rook's hard brain; he's in a state of nervous prostration, which may end badly. Do you know where he lives?”

”He is staying with his sister--Mrs. Delvin.”

”Mrs. Delvin! she's a friend and patient of mine. Say I'll look in to-morrow morning, and see what I can do for her brother. In the meantime, get him to bed, and to rest; and don't be afraid of giving him brandy.”

The doctor returned to the bedroom. Emily heard Mrs. Ellmother's voice below.

”Are you up there, miss?”

”Yes.”

Mrs. Ellmother ascended the stairs. ”It was an evil hour,” she said, ”that you insisted on going to this place. Mr. Mirabel--” The sight of Emily's face suspended the next words on her lips. She took the poor young mistress in her motherly arms. ”Oh, my child! what has happened to you?”

”Don't ask me now. Give me your arm--let us go downstairs.”

”You won't be startled when you see Mr. Mirabel--will you, my dear? I wouldn't let them disturb you; I said n.o.body should speak to you but myself. The truth is, Mr. Mirabel has had a dreadful fright. What are you looking for?”

”Is there a garden here? Any place where we can breathe the fresh air?”

There was a courtyard at the back of the house. They found their way to it. A bench was placed against one of the walls. They sat down.

”Shall I wait till you're better before I say any more?” Mrs. Ellmother asked. ”No? You want to hear about Mr. Mirabel? My dear, he came into the parlor where I was; and Mr. Rook came in too---and waited, looking at him. Mr. Mirabel sat down in a corner, in a dazed state as I thought.

It wasn't for long. He jumped up, and clapped his hand on his heart as if his heart hurt him. 'I must and will know what's going on upstairs,'

he says. Mr. Rook pulled him back, and told him to wait till the young lady came down. Mr. Mirabel wouldn't hear of it. 'Your wife's frightening her,' he says; 'your wife's telling her horrible things about me.' He was taken on a sudden with a s.h.i.+vering fit; his eyes rolled, and his teeth chattered. Mr. Rook made matters worse; he lost his temper. 'I'm d.a.m.ned,' he says, 'if I don't begin to think you _are_ the man, after all; I've half a mind to send for the police.' Mr.

Mirabel dropped into his chair. His eyes stared, his mouth fell open. I took hold of his hand. Cold--cold as ice. What it all meant I can't say.

Oh, miss, _you_ know! Let me tell you the rest of it some other time.”

Emily insisted on hearing more. ”The end!” she cried. ”How did it end?”

”I don't know how it might have ended, if the doctor hadn't come in--to pay his visit, you know, upstairs. He said some learned words. When he came to plain English, he asked if anybody had frightened the gentleman. I said Mr. Rook had frightened him. The doctor says to Mr.