Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-20
CHAPTER VIII.
ALL WAS SILENT, ALL WAS GLOOM"


Friedrich Friedricson, the great surgeon,
had come and gone, and was to come
again. So far he had been able to say a
few words of comfort or of hope Sir
Adams condition was so precarious that
the surgeon had not dared to attempt the
extraction of the bullet and until that
was extracted there could be little hope of
recovery. The symtomatic fever was more
violent than is usual in such cases. The
patient was delirious, sleepless, and I'M
able to take nourishment Altogether the
case looked threatening.
Lady Darnel's slumbers had not lasted
long after that awful dream of hers At
four O'Clock in the morning she had
awakened and gone to Graces dressing
room to give herself cold bath, and to
dress for the day And now it was late in
the afternoon, and she had not closed her
eyes since that troubled sleep on the
sofa
The three women wandered about the
house like three ghosts, so pale and wan
and silent We're they all Grace turned to
Colonel Stukely for her only
comfort. Dora read her Bible at
all times and seasons. Lady Darnel
sought comfort from no one. She paced
with noiseless football up and down the
corridor outside her husbands room for
hours at a stretch. She Intercepted every
body who came out-the neatly clad nurse
in her prim cap and spotless apron; Dan
vers, the medical man; Purdew, the old
military servant. These were her only
sources of comfort, and such comfort as
they could give was mixed with gall
AS the day wore on she could hardly be
induced to leave the corridor Lunch, din
ner, all conventional meals, were scorned
by those three women; but it was only
Lady Darnel who had not broken her fast
by so much as biscuit since the previous
evening But at last Grace beguiled her
step-mother into her den and made her sit
by the fire and take some tea and bread
and butter.
"Do you want to be ill., too, and make us
still more unhappy" said Grace, reproach-
fully
She had insisted on giving Lady Darnel
her own bedroom, the door of which was
opposite the sick-room, while she herself
was to occupy a little bed hastily put I'D in
the dressing room. This arrangement was
deeply resented by Dora.
Il think if anybody has a right to be near
Allan at such time, it is /. his sister," she
said, when she and Grace were alone.
But surely, Aunt Dora, a wifes right is
above all otherss"
"That depends upon the wife"
"Then, if there can be any such distinc-
ton, nobody can dispute my step-mother's
claim, for she is the most devoted of
wives
"She has knack of seeming very de-
voted" remarked Dora.
seeming, and a knack," repeated Grace.
Indignantly. How can you say such
things, Aunt Dora How dare you insinu-
ate that my fathers wife is not trues"
Il insinuate nothing, Grace, and am not
going to be taken to task by schoolgirl
can only say that Lady Darnel is mys-
terry to me, Just rs she is a mystery to the
county. Indeed, l may say that you are
the only person who appears to understand
her and believe in her."
My father believes in her." rctorted
Grace, more and more indignant. THAT
Is enough for me-"
Your father is under the spell Of q DO
tent fascination, my dear. Have you never
heard of middle-aged widower subjugated
oy the maneuvers Of handsome widow
widow whose antecedents are wrapped in
profound darkness
You are talking most unjustly, Aunt
Dora; and, what is more, you know that
you are unjust wonder you don't ex.
pecf something to crawl out Of your Bible