Isaid，’No；youstopathome，andlookafterthehouseandtheparish，andI’llbringthechildback。’Youshallhaveyouroldbedroom，Valeria，withthewhitecurtains，youknow，loopedupwithblue！WewillreturntotheVicarage（ifyoucangetupintime）bythenine—fortytrainto—morrowmorning。"
　　ReturntotheVicarage！HowcouldIdothat？HowcouldIhopetogainwhatwasnowtheoneobjectofmyexistenceifIburiedmyselfinaremotenorth—countryvillage？ItwassimplyimpossibleformetoaccompanyDoctorStarkweatheronhisreturntohisownhouse。
　　"Ithankyou，uncle，withallmyheart，"Isaid。"ButIamafraidIcan’tleaveLondonforthepresent。"
　　"Youcan’tleaveLondonforthepresent？"herepeated。"Whatdoesthegirlmean，Mr。Benjamin？"Benjaminevadedadirectreply。
　　"Sheiskindlywelcomehere，DoctorStarkweather，"hesaid，"aslongasshechoosestostaywithme。"
　　"That’snoanswer，"retortedmyuncle，inhisrough—and—readyway。Heturnedtome。"WhatistheretokeepyouinLondon？"heasked。"YouusedtohateLondon。Isupposethereissomereason？"
　　ItwasonlyduetomygoodguardianandfriendthatIshouldtakehimintomyconfidencesoonerorlater。Therewasnohelpforitbuttorousemycourage，andtellhimfranklywhatIhaditinmymindtodo。Thevicarlistenedinbreathlessdismay。HeturnedtoBenjamin，withdistressaswellassurpriseinhisface，whenI
　　haddone。
　　"Godhelpher！"criedtheworthyman。"Thepoorthing’stroubleshaveturnedherbrain！"
　　"Ithoughtyouwoulddisapproveofit，sir，"saidBenjamin，inhismildandmoderateway。"IconfessIdisapproveofitmyself。"
　　"’Disapproveofit’isn’ttheword，"retortedthevicar。"Don’tputitinthatfeebleway，ifyouplease。Anactofmadness——that’swhatitis，ifshereallymeanwhatshesays。"Heturnedmyway，andlookedasheusedtolookattheafternoonservicewhenhewascatechisinganobstinatechild。"Youdon’tmeanit，"hesaid，"doyou？"
　　"Iamsorrytoforfeityourgoodopinion，uncle，"Ireplied。"ButImustownthatIdocertainlymeanit。"
　　"InplainEnglish，"retortedthevicar，"youareconceitedenoughtothinkthatyoucansucceedwherethegreatestlawyersinScotlandhavefailed。_They_couldn’tprovethisman’sinnocence，allworkingtogether。And_you_aregoingtoproveitsingle—handed？Uponmyword，youareawonderfulwoman，"criedmyuncle，suddenlydescendingfromindignationtoirony。"Mayaplaincountryparson，whoisn’tusedtolawyersinpetticoats，bepermittedtoaskhowyoumeantodoit？"
　　"ImeantobeginbyreadingtheTrial，uncle。"
　　"Nicereadingforayoungwoman！YouwillbewantingabatchofnastyFrenchnovelsnext。Well，andwhenyouhavereadtheTrial——whatthen？Haveyouthoughtofthat？"
　　"Yes，uncle；Ihavethoughtofthat。Ishallfirsttrytoformsomeconclusion（afterreadingtheTrial）astotheguiltypersonwhoreallycommittedthecrime。ThenIshallmakeoutalistofthewitnesseswhospokeinmyhusband’sdefense。Ishallgotothosewitnesses，andtellthemwhoIamandwhatIwant。Ishallaskallsortsofquestionswhichgravelawyersmightthinkitbeneaththeirdignitytoput。Ishallbeguided，inwhatIdonext，bytheanswersIreceive。AndIshallnotbediscouraged，nomatterwhatdifficultiesarethrowninmyway。Thosearemyplans，uncle，sofarasIknowthemnow。"
　　ThevicarandBenjaminlookedateachotherasiftheydoubtedtheevidenceoftheirownsenses。Thevicarspoke。
　　"Doyoumeantotellme，"hesaid，"thatyouaregoingroamingaboutthecountrytothrowyourselfonthemercyofstrangers，andtoriskwhateverroughreceptionyoumaygetinthecourseofyourtravels？You！Ayoungwoman！Desertedbyyourhusband！Withnobodytoprotectyou！Mr。Benjamin，doyouhearher？Andcanyoubelieveyourears？IdeclaretoHeaven_I_don’tknowwhetherI
　　amawakeordreaming。Lookather——justlookather！Thereshesitsascoolandeasyasifshehadsaidnothingatallextraordinary，andwasgoingtodonothingoutofthecommonway！
　　WhatamItodowithher？——that’stheseriousquestion——whatonearthamItodowithher？"
　　"Letmetrymyexperiment，uncle，rashasitmaylooktoyou，"I
　　said。"Nothingelsewillcomfortandsupportme；andGodknowsI
　　wantcomfortandsupport。Don’tthinkmeobstinate。Iamreadytoadmitthatthereareseriousdifficultiesinmyway。"
　　Thevicarresumedhisironicaltone。
　　"Oh！"hesaid。"Youadmitthat，doyou？Well，thereissomethinggained，atanyrate。"
　　"Manyanotherwomanbeforeme，"Iwenton，"hasfacedseriousdifficulties，andhasconqueredthem——forthesakeofthemansheloved。"
　　DoctorStarkweatherroseslowlytohisfeet，withtheairofapersonwhosecapacityoftolerationhadreacheditslastlimits。
　　"AmItounderstandthatyouarestillinlovewithMr。EustaceMacallan？"heasked。
　　"Yes，"Ianswered。
　　"TheheroofthegreatPoisonTrial？"pursuedmyuncle。"Themanwhohasdeceivedanddesertedyou？Youlovehim？"
　　"Ilovehimmoredearlythanever。"
　　"Mr。Benjamin，"saidthevicar，"ifsherecoverhersensesbetweenthisandnineo’clockto—morrowmorning，sendherwithherluggagetoLoxley’sHotel，whereIamnowstaying。
　　Good—night，Valeria。Ishallconsultwithyourauntastowhatistobedonenext。Ihavenomoretosay。"
　　"Givemeakiss，uncle，atparting。"
　　"Ohyes，I’llgiveyouakiss。Anythingyoulike，Valeria。I
　　shallbesixty—fivenextbirthday；andIthoughtIknewsomethingofwomen，atmytimeoflife。ItseemsIknownothing。Loxley’sHotelistheaddress，Mr。Benjamin。Good—night。"
　　BenjaminlookedverygravewhenhereturnedtomeafteraccompanyingDoctorStarkweathertothegardengate。
　　"Praybeadvised，mydear，"hesaid。"Idon’taskyoutoconsider_my_viewofthismatter，asgoodformuch。Butyouruncle’sopinionissurelyworthconsidering？"
　　Ididnotreply。Itwasuselesstosayanymore。Imadeupmymindtobemisunderstoodanddiscouraged，andtobearit。
　　"Good—night，mydearoldfriend，"wasallIsaidtoBenjamin。
　　ThenIturnedaway——Iconfesswiththetearsinmyeyes——andtookrefugeinmybedroom。
　　Thewindow—blindwasup，andtheautumnmoonlightshonebrilliantlyintothelittleroom。
　　AsIstoodbythewindow，lookingout，thememorycametomeofanothermoonlightnight，whenEustaceandIwerewalkingtogetherintheVicaragegardenbeforeourmarriage。ItwasthenightofwhichIhavewritten，manypagesback，whentherewereobstaclestoourunion，andwhenEustacehadofferedtoreleasemefrommyengagementtohim。Isawthedearfaceagainlookingatmeinthemoonlight；Iheardoncemorehiswordsandmine。"Forgiveme，"hehadsaid，"forhavinglovedyou——passionately，devotedlylovedyou。Forgiveme，andletmego。"
　　AndIhadanswered，"Oh，Eustace，Iamonlyawoman——don’tmaddenme！Ican’tlivewithoutyou。Imustandwillbeyourwife！"Andnow，aftermarriagehadunitedus，wewereparted！Parted，stilllovingeachaspassionatelyasever。Andwhy？Becausehehadbeenaccusedofacrimethathehadnevercommitted，andbecauseaScotchjuryhadfailedtoseethathewasaninnocentman。
　　Ilookedatthelovelymoonlight，pursuingtheseremembrancesandthesethoughts。Anewardorburnedinme。"No！"Isaidtomyself。
　　"Neitherrelationsnorfriendsshallprevailonmetofalterandfailinmyhusband’scause。
　　Theassertionofhisinnocenceistheworkofmylife；Iwillbeginitto—night。"
　　Idrewdowntheblindandlightedthecandles。Inthequietnight，aloneandunaided，Itookmyfirststeponthetoilsomeandterriblejourneythatlaybeforeme。Fromthetitle—pagetotheend，withoutstoppingtorestandwithoutmissingaword，I
　　readtheTrialofmyhusbandforthemurderofhiswife。
　　——————————————————
　　PARTII。
　　PARADISEREGAINED。
　　——————————————————
　　CHAPTERXV。
　　THESTORYOFTHETRIAL。THEPRELIMINARIES。
　　LETmeconfessanotherweakness，onmypart，beforeIbegintheStoryoftheTrial。Icannotprevailuponmyselftocopy，forthesecondtime，thehorribletitle—pagewhichholdsuptopublicignominymyhusband’sname。Ihavecopieditonceinmytenthchapter。Letoncebeenough。
　　TurningtothesecondpageoftheTrial，IfoundaNote，assuringthereaderoftheabsolutecorrectnessoftheReportoftheProceedings。Thecompilerdescribedhimselfashavingenjoyedcertainspecialprivileges。Thus，thepresidingJudgehadhimselfrevisedhischargetothejury。And，again，thechieflawyersfortheprosecutionandthedefense，followingtheJudge’sexample，hadrevisedtheirspeechesforandagainsttheprisoner。Lastly，particularcarehadbeentakentosecurealiterallycorrectreportoftheevidencegivenbythevariouswitnesses。ItwassomerelieftometodiscoverthisNote，andtobesatisfiedattheoutsetthattheStoryoftheTrialwas，ineveryparticular，fullyandtrulygiven。
　　Thenextpageinterestedmemorenearlystill。ItenumeratedtheactorsintheJudicialDrama——themenwhoheldintheirhandsmyhusband’shonorandmyhusband’slife。HereistheList：
　　THELORDJUSTICECLERK，}
　　LORDDRUMFENNICK，}JudgesontheBench。
　　LORDNOBLEKIRK，}
　　THELORDADVOCATE（Mintlaw），}DONALDDREW，Esquire（Advocate—Depute）。}CounselfortheCrown。
　　MR。JAMESARLISS，W。S。，AgentfortheCrown。
　　THEDEANOFFACULTY（Farmichael），}CounselforthePanelALEXANDERCROCKET，Esquire（Advocate），}（otherwisethePrisoner）
　　MR。THORNIEBANK，W。S。，}
　　MR。PLAYMORE，W。S。，}AgentsforthePanel。
　　TheIndictmentagainsttheprisonerthenfollowed。Ishallnotcopytheuncouthlanguage，fullofneedlessrepetitions（and，ifIknowanythingofthesubject，notguiltlessofbadgrammaraswell），inwhichmyinnocenthusbandwassolemnlyandfalselyaccusedofpoisoninghisfirstwife。ThelessthereisofthatfalseandhatefulIndictmentonthispage，thebetterandtruerthepagewilllook，to_my_eyes。
　　Tobebrief，then，EustaceMacallanwas"indictedandaccused，attheinstanceofDavidMintlaw，Esquire，HerMajesty’sAdvocate，forHerMajesty’sinterest，"oftheMurderofhisWifebypoison，athisresidencecalledGleninch，inthecountyofMid—Lothian。
　　ThepoisonwasallegedtohavebeenwickedlyandfeloniouslygivenbytheprisonertohiswifeSara，ontwooccasions，intheformofarsenic，administeredintea，medicine，"orotherarticleorarticlesoffoodordrink，totheprosecutorunknown。"Itwasfurtherdeclaredthattheprisoner’swifehaddiedofthepoisonthusadministeredbyherhusband，ononeorother，orboth，ofthestatedoccasions；andthatshewasthusmurderedbyherhusband。ThenextparagraphassertedthatthesaidEustaceMacallan，takenbeforeJohnDaviot，Esquire，advocate，Sheriff—SubstituteofMid—Lothian，didinhispresenceatEdinburgh（onagivendate，viz。，the29thofOctober），subscribeaDeclarationstatinghisinnocenceoftheallegedcrime：thisDeclarationbeingreservedintheIndictment——togetherwithcertaindocuments，papersandarticles，enumeratedinanInventory——tobeusedinevidenceagainsttheprisoner。TheIndictmentconcludedbydeclaringthat，intheeventoftheoffensechargedagainsttheprisonerbeingfoundprovenbytheVerdict，he，thesaidEustaceMacallan，"oughttobepunishedwiththepainsofthelaw，todeterothersfromcommittinglikecrimesinalltimecoming。"
　　SomuchfortheIndictment！Ihavedonewithit——andIamrejoicedtobedonewithit。
　　AnInventoryofpapers，documents，andarticlesfollowedatgreatlengthonthenextthreepages。This，initsturn，wassucceededbythelistofthewitnesses，andbythenamesofthejurors（fifteeninnumber）ballotedfortotrythecase。Andthen，atlast，theReportoftheTrialbegan。Itresolveditself，tomymind，intothreegreatQuestions。Asitappearedtomeatthetime，soletmepresentithere。
　　CHAPTERXVI。
　　FIRSTQUESTION——DIDTHEWOMANDIEPOISONED？
　　THEproceedingsbeganatteno’clock。TheprisonerwasplacedattheBar，beforetheHighCourtofJusticiary，atEdinburgh。HebowedrespectfullytotheBench，andpleadedNotGuilty，inalowvoice。
　　Itwasobservedbyeveryonepresentthattheprisoner’sfacebetrayedtracesofacutementalsuffering。Hewasdeadlypale。
　　HiseyesneveroncewanderedtothecrowdintheCourt。Whencertainwitnessesappearedagainsthim，helookedatthemwithamomentaryattention。Atothertimeshekepthiseyesontheground。Whentheevidencetouchedonhiswife’sillnessanddeath，hewasdeeplyaffected，andcoveredhisfacewithhishands。Itwasasubjectofgeneralremarkandgeneralsurprisethattheprisoner，inthiscase（althoughaman），showedfarlessself—possessionthanthelastprisonertriedinthatCourtformurder——awoman，whohadbeenconvictedonoverwhelmingevidence。
　　Therewerepersonspresent（asmallminorityonly）whoconsideredthiswantofcomposureonthepartoftheprisonertobeasigninhisfavor。Self—possession，inhisdreadfulposition，signified，totheirminds，thestarkinsensibilityofaheartlessandshamelesscriminal，andaffordedinitselfapresumption，notofinnocence，butofguilt。
　　ThefirstwitnesscalledwasJohnDaviot，Esquire，Sheriff—SubstituteofMid—Lothian。HewasexaminedbytheLordAdvocate（ascounselfortheprosecution）；andsaid：
　　"Theprisonerwasbroughtbeforemeonthepresentcharge。HemadeandsubscribedaDeclarationonthe29thofOctober。Itwasfreelyandvoluntarilymade，theprisonerhavingbeenfirstdulywarnedandadmonished。"
　　HavingidentifiedtheDeclaration，theSheriff—Substitute——beingcross—examinedbytheDeanofFaculty（ascounselforthedefense）——continuedhisevidenceinthesewords：
　　"ThechargeagainsttheprisonerwasMurder。ThiswascommunicatedtohimbeforehemadetheDeclaration。Thequestionsaddressedtotheprisonerwereputpartlybyme，partlybyanotherofficer，theprocurator—fiscal。Theanswersweregivendistinctly，and，sofarasIcouldjudge，withoutreserve。ThestatementsputforwardintheDeclarationwereallmadeinanswertoquestionsaskedbytheprocurator—fiscalorbymyself。"
　　AclerkintheSheriff—Clerk’sofficethenofficiallyproducedtheDeclaration，andcorroboratedtheevidenceofthewitnesswhohadprecededhim。
　　TheappearanceofthenextwitnesscreatedamarkedsensationintheCourt。ThiswasnolessapersonthanthenursewhohadattendedMrs。Macallaninherlastillness——bynameChristinaOrmsay。
　　Afterthefirstformalanswers，thenurse（examinedbytheLordAdvocate）proceededtosay：
　　"Iwasfirstsentfortoattendthedeceasedladyonthe7thofOctober。Shewasthensufferingfromaseverecold，accompaniedbyarheumaticaffectionoftheleftknee—joint。PrevioustothisIunderstoodthatherhealthhadbeenfairlygood。Shewasnotaverydifficultpersontonursewhenyougotusedtoher，andunderstoodhowtomanageher。Themaindifficultywascausedbyhertemper。Shewasnotasullenperson；shewasheadstrongandviolent——easilyexcitedtoflyintoapassion，andquiterecklessinherfitsofangerastowhatshesaidordid。AtsuchtimesI
　　reallyhardlythinksheknewwhatshewasabout。Myownideaisthathertemperwasmadestillmoreirritablebyunhappinessinhermarriedlife。Shewasfarfrombeingareservedperson。
　　Indeed，shewasdisposed（asIthought）tobealittletoocommunicativeaboutherselfandhertroubleswithpersonslikemewhowerebeneathherinstation。Shedidnotscruple，forinstance，totellme（whenwehadbeenlongenoughtogethertogetusedtoeachother）thatshewasveryunhappy，andfrettedagooddealaboutherhusband。Onenight，whenshewaswakefulandrestless，shesaidtome——"
　　TheDeanofFacultyhereinterposed，speakingontheprisoner’sbehalf。HeappealedtotheJudgestosaywhethersuchlooseandunreliableevidenceasthiswasevidencewhichcouldbereceivedbytheCourt。
　　TheLordAdvocate（speakingonbehalfoftheCrown）claimeditashisrighttoproducetheevidence。Itwasoftheutmostimportanceinthiscasetoshow（onthetestimonyofanunprejudicedwitness）onwhattermsthehusbandandwifewereliving。Thewitnesswasamostrespectablewoman。Shehadwon，anddeserved，theconfidenceoftheunhappyladywhomsheattendedonherdeath—bed。
　　Afterbrieflyconsultingtogether，theJudgesunanimouslydecidedthattheevidencecouldnotbeadmitted。Whatthewitnesshadherselfseenandobservedoftherelationsbetweenthehusbandandwifewastheonlyevidencethattheycouldreceive。
　　TheLordAdvocatethereuponcontinuedhisexaminationofthewitness。ChristinaOrmsayresumedherevidenceasfollows：
　　"MypositionasnurselednecessarilytomyseeingmoreofMrs。
　　Macallanthananyotherpersoninthehouse。Iamabletospeakfromexperienceofmanythingsnotknowntootherswhowereonlyinherroomatintervals。
　　"Forinstance，IhadmorethanoneopportunityofpersonallyobservingthatMr。andMrs。Macallandidnotlivetogetherveryhappily。Icangiveyouanexampleofthis，notdrawnfromwhatotherstoldme，butfromwhatInoticedformyself。
　　"TowardthelatterpartofmyattendanceonMrs。Macallan，ayoungwidowladynamedMrs。Beauly——acousinofMr。
　　Macallan’s——cametostayatGleninch。Mrs。Macallanwasjealousofthislady；andsheshoweditinmypresenceonlythedaybeforeherdeath，whenMr。Macallancameintoherroomtoinquirehowshehadpassedthenight。’Oh，’shesaid，’nevermindhow_I_
　　haveslept！WhatdoyoucarewhetherIsleepwellorill？HowhasMrs。Beaulypassedthenight？Isshemorebeautifulthaneverthismorning？Gobacktoher——praygobacktoher！Don’twasteyourtimewithme！’Beginninginthatmanner，sheworkedherselfintooneofherfuriousrages。Iwasbrushingherhairatthetime；andfeelingthatmypresencewasanimproprietyunderthecircumstances，Iattemptedtoleavetheroom。Sheforbademetogo。Mr。Macallanfelt，asIdid，thatmydutywastowithdraw，andhesaidsoinplainwords。Mrs。Macallaninsistedonmystayinginlanguagesoinsolenttoherhusbandthathesaid，’Ifyoucannotcontrolyourself，eitherthenurseleavestheroomorIdo。’Sherefusedtoyieldeventhen。’Agoodexcuse，’shesaid，’forgettingbacktoMrs。Beauly。Go！’Hetookheratherword，andwalkedoutoftheroom。Hehadbarelyclosedthedoorbeforeshebeganrevilinghimtomeinthemostshockingmanner。Shedeclared，amongotherthingsshesaidofhim，thatthenewsofallotherswhichhewouldbemostgladtohearwouldbethenewsofherdeath。Iventured，quiterespectfully，onremonstratingwithher。Shetookupthehair—brushandthrewitatme，andthenandtheredismissedmefrommyattendanceonher。Ilefther，andwaitedbelowuntilherfitofpassionhadwornitselfout。ThenI
　　returnedtomyplaceatthebedside，andforawhilethingswentonagainasusual。
　　"ItmaynotbeamisstoaddawordwhichmayhelptoexplainMrs。
　　Macallan’sjealousyofherhusband’scousin。Mrs。Macallanwasaveryplainwoman。Shehadacastinoneofhereyes，and（ifI
　　mayusetheexpression）oneofthemostmuddy，blotchycomplexionsitwasevermymisfortunetoseeinaperson’sface。
　　Mrs。Beauly，ontheotherhand，wasamostattractivelady。Hereyeswereuniversallyadmired，andshehadamostbeautifullyclearanddelicatecolor。PoorMrs。Macallansaidofher，mostuntruly，thatshepainted。
　　"No；thedefectsinthecomplexionofthedeceasedladywerenotinanywayattributabletoherillness。Ishouldcallthembornandbreddefectsinherself。
　　"Herillness，ifIamaskedtodescribeit，Ishouldsaywastroublesome——nothingmore。Untilthelastdaytherewerenosymptomsintheleastdegreeseriousaboutthemaladythathadtakenher。Herrheumatickneewaspainful，ofcourse——acutelypainful，ifyoulike——whenshemovedit；andtheconfinementtobedwasirksomeenough，nodoubt。Butotherwisetherewasnothinginthelady’scondition，beforethefatalattackcame，toalarmheroranybodyabouther。Shehadherbooksandherwritingmaterialsonaninvalidtable，whichworkedonapivot，andcouldbearrangedinanypositionmostagreeabletoher。Attimesshereadandwroteagooddeal。Atothertimesshelayquiet，thinkingherownthoughts，ortalkingwithme，andwithoneortwoladyfriendsintheneighborhoodwhocameregularlytoseeher。
　　"Herwriting，sofarasIknew，wasalmostentirelyofthepoeticalsort。Shewasagreathandatcomposingpoetry。Ononeoccasiononlysheshowedmesomeofherpoems。Iamnojudgeofsuchthings。Herpoetrywasofthedismalkind，despairingaboutherself，andwonderingwhyshehadeverbeenborn，andnonsenselikethat。Herhusbandcameinmorethanonceforsomehardhitsathiscruelheartandhisignoranceofhiswife’smerits。Inshort，sheventedherdiscontentwithherpenaswellaswithhertongue。Thereweretimes——andprettyoftentoo——whenanangelfromheavenwouldhavefailedtohavesatisfiedMrs。Macallan。
　　"Throughouttheperiodofherillnessthedeceasedladyoccupiedthesameroom——alargebedroomsituated（likeallthebestbedrooms）onthefirstfloorofthehouse。
　　"Yes：theplanoftheroomnowshowntomeisquiteaccuratelytaken，accordingtomyremembranceofit。Onedoorledintothegreatpassage，orcorridor，onwhichallthedoorsopened。A
　　seconddoor，atoneside（markedBontheplan），ledtoMr。
　　Macallan’ssleeping—room。Athirddoor，ontheoppositeside（markedContheplan），communicatedwithalittlestudy，orbook—room，used，asIwastold，byMr。Macallan’smotherwhenshewasstayingatGleninch，butseldomorneverenteredbyanyoneelse。Mr。Macallan’smotherwasnotatGleninchwhileIwasthere。Thedoorbetweenthebedroomandthisstudywaslocked，andthekeywastakenout。Idon’tknowwhohadthekey，orwhetherthereweremorekeysthanoneinexistence。Thedoorwasneveropenedtomyknowledge。Ionlygotintothestudy，tolookatitalongwiththehousekeeper，byenteringthroughaseconddoorthatopenedontothecorridor。
　　"IbegtosaythatIcanspeakfrommyownknowledgepositivelyaboutMrs。Macallan’sillness，andaboutthesuddenchangewhichendedinherdeath。Bythedoctor’sadviceImadenotesatthetimeofdatesandhours，andsuchlike。Ilookedatmynotesbeforecominghere。
　　"Fromthe7thofOctober，whenIwasfirstcalledintonurseher，tothe20thofthesamemonth，sheslowlybutsteadilyimprovedinhealth。Herkneewasstillpainful，nodoubt；buttheinflammatorylookofitwasdisappearing。Astotheothersymptoms，exceptweaknessfromlyinginbed，andirritabilityoftemper，therewasreallynothingthematterwithher。Shesleptbadly，Ioughtperhapstoadd。Butweremediedthisbymeansofcomposingdraughtsprescribedforthatpurposebythedoctor。
　　"Onthemorningofthe21st，atafewminutespastsix，IgotmyfirstalarmthatsomethingwasgoingwrongwithMrs。Macallan。
　　"IwasawokeatthetimeIhavementionedbytheringingofthehand—bellwhichshekeptonherbed—table。LetmesayformyselfthatIhadonlyfallenasleeponthesofainthebedroomatpasttwointhemorningfromsheerfatigue。Mrs。Macallanwasthenawake。Shewasinoneofherbadhumorswithme。Ihadtriedtoprevailonhertoletmeremoveherdressing—casefromherbed—table，aftershehaduseditinmakinghertoiletforthenight。Ittookupagreatdealofroom；andshecouldnotpossiblywantitagainbeforethemorning。Butno；sheinsistedonmylettingitbe。Therewasaglassinsidethecase；and，plainasshewas，sheneverweariedoflookingatherselfinthatglass。Isawthatshewasinabadstateoftemper，soIgaveherherway，andletthedressing—casebe。Findingthatshewastoosullentospeaktomeafterthat，andtooobstinatetotakehercomposingdraughtfrommewhenIofferedit，Ilaidmedownonthesofaatherbedfoot，andfellasleep，asIhavesaid。
　　"ThemomentherbellrangIwasupandatthebedside，readytomakemyselfuseful。
　　"Iaskedwhatwasthematterwithher。Shecomplainedoffaintnessanddepression，andsaidshefeltsick。IinquiredifshehadtakenanythinginthewayofphysicorfoodwhileIhadbeenasleep。Sheansweredthatherhusbandhadcomeinaboutanhoursince，and，findingherstillsleepless，hadhimselfadministeredthecomposingdraught。Mr。Macallan（sleepinginthenextroom）joineduswhileshewasspeaking。Hetoohadbeenarousedbythebell。HeheardwhatMrs。Macallansaidtomeaboutthecomposingdraught，andmadenoremarkuponit。Itseemedtomethathewasalarmedathiswife’sfaintness。Isuggestedthatsheshouldtakealittlewine，orbrandyandwater。Sheansweredthatshecouldswallownothingsostrongaswineorbrandy，havingaburningpaininherstomachalready。Iputmyhandonherstomach——quitelightly。ShescreamedwhenItouchedher。