I Say No

Incapable of answering him; forgetful of the ordinary restraints of social intercourse—with the one doubt that preserved her belief in Mirabel, eager for confirmation—Emily signed to this stranger to follow her into a corner of the room, out of hearing. She made no excuses: she took no notice of his look of surprise. One hope was all she could feel, one word was all she could say, after that second assertion of Mirabel's guilt. Indicating Mrs. Rook by a glance at the bed, she whispered the word:

'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 nobody 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 shivering fit; his eyes rolled, and his teeth chattered. Mr. Rook made matters worse; he lost his temper. 'I'm damned,' 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. Rook, 'Mind what you are about. If you frighten him again, you may have his death to answer for.' That cowed Mr. Rook. He asked what he had better do. 'Give me some brandy for him first,' says the doctor; 'and then get him home at once.' I found the brandy, and went away to the inn to order the carriage. Your ears are quicker than mine, miss—do I hear it now?'

They rose, and went to the house door. The carriage was there.

Still cowed by what the doctor had said, Mr. Rook appeared, carefully leading Mirabel out. He had revived under the action of the stimulant. Passing Emily he raised his eyes to her—trembled—and looked down again. When Mr. Rook opened the door of the carriage he paused, with one of his feet on the step. A momentary impulse inspired him with a false courage, and brought a flush into his ghastly face. He turned to Emily.

'May I speak to you?' he asked.

She started back from him. He looked at Mrs. Ellmother. 'Tell her I am innocent,' he said. The trembling seized on him again. Mr. Rook was obliged to lift him into the carriage.

Emily caught at Mrs. Ellmother's arm. 'You go with him,' she said. 'I can't.'

'How are you to get back, miss?'

She turned away and spoke to the coachman. 'I am not very well. I want the fresh air—I'll sit by you.'

Mrs. Ellmother remonstrated and protested, in vain. As Emily had determined it should be, so it was.

'Has he said anything?' she asked, when they had arrived at their journey's end.

'He has been like a man frozen up; he hasn't said a word; he hasn't even moved.'