Part 14 (1/2)
”It was but natural,” the coroner suavely observed. ”Every one felt interested in this marriage. You watched her of course. Now what was the result? Did you consider her well and happy?”
The girl's voice sank and she cast a glance at her master which he did not lift his head to meet.
”I did not think her happy. She laughed and sang and was always in and out of the rooms like a b.u.t.terfly, but she did not wear a happy look, except now and then when she was seated with Mr. Jeffrey alone.
Then I have seen her flush in a way to make the heart ache; it was such a contrast, sir, to other times when she was by herself or--”
”Or what?”
”Or just with her sister, sir.”
The defiance with which this was said added point to what otherwise might have been an unimportant admission. Those who had already scrutinized Miss Tuttle with the curiosity of an ill-defined suspicion now scrutinized her with a more palpable one, and those who had hitherto seen nothing in this heavily-veiled woman but the bereaved sister of an irresponsible suicide allowed their looks to dwell piercingly on that concealing veil, as if they would be glad to penetrate its folds and read in those beautiful features the meaning of an allusion uttered with such a sting in the tone.
”You refer to Miss Tuttle?” observed the coroner.
”Mrs. Jeffrey's sister? Yes, sir.” The menace was gone from the voice now, but no one could forget that it had been there.
”Miss Tuttle lived in the house with her sister, did she not?”
”Yes, sir; till that sister died and was buried; then she went away.”
The coroner did not pursue this topic, preferring to return to the former one.
”So you say that Mrs. Jeffrey showed uneasiness ever since her wedding day. Can you give me any instance of this; mention, I mean, any conversations overheard by you which would show us just what you mean?”
”I don't like to repeat things I hear. But if you say that I must, I can remember once pa.s.sing Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey in the hall, just as he was saying: 'You take it too much to heart! I expected a happy honeymoon. Somehow, we have failed--' That was all I heard, sir. But what made me remember his words was that she was dressed for some afternoon reception and looked so charming and so--and so, as if she ought to be happier.”
”Just so. Now, when was this? How long before her death?”
”Oh, a week or so. It was very soon after the wedding day.”
”And did matters seem to improve after that? Did she appear any better satisfied or more composed?”
”I think she endeavored to. But there was something on her mind, something which she tried to laugh off; something that annoyed Mr.
Jeffrey and worried Miss Tuttle; something which caused a cloud in the house, for all the dances and dinners and goings and comings.
I am sorry to speak of it, but it was so.”
”Something that showed an unsettled mind?”
”Almost. The glitter in her eye was not natural; neither was the way she looked at her sister and sometimes at her husband.”
”Did she talk much about the catastrophe which attended her wedding?
Did her mind seem to run on that?”
”Incessantly at first; but afterward not so much. I think Mr.
Jeffrey frowned on that subject.”
”Did he ever frown on her?”
”No, sir--not--not when they were alone or with no one by but me.