第 34 节
作者:
淋雨 更新:2021-10-16 18:43 字数:9307
Under pretense of searching for pencil and paper Helen contrived to
see the address of every letter lying on the table; but the envelope she
sought; with its red seal; was not among them。 When she looked up
again; pencil and paper in hand; she found Mrs。 Brewster leaning lazily
back and regarding her from under half…closed lids。 〃You are very like
your father; Helen;〃 she commented softly。
The girl stiffened。 〃Am I? Babs and I are generally thought to
resemble our mother。〃
〃In appearance; yes; but I mean mannerisms … for instance; the way of
holding your pencil; your handwriting; even; closely resembles your
father's。〃 Mrs。 Brewster pointed to the notes Helen was scribbling on the
paper and to an open letter bearing Colonel McIntyre's signature at the
bottom of the sheet lying beside the pad to illustrate her meaning。
〃These are almost identical。〃
〃You are a close observer。〃 Helen completed her memorandum and
laid it aside。 〃What became of father?〃
〃He went to a stag supper at the Willard;〃 chimed in Barbara; stopping
her aimless walk about the library。 〃He said we were not to wait up for
him。〃
Helen pushed back her chair and rose with some abruptness。
〃I am more tired than I realized;〃 she remarked and involuntarily
stretched her weary muscles。 〃Come; Margaret;〃 laying a persuasive
hand on the widow's shoulder。 〃Be a trump and rub my forehead with
cologne as you used to do abroad when I had a headache。 It always put
me to sleep then; and; oh; how I long for sleep now!〃
There was infinite pathos in her voice and Mrs。 Brewster sprang up
and threw her arm about her in ready sympathy。
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〃You poor darling!〃 she exclaimed。 〃Let me put you to bed; Mammy
taught me the art of soothing frayed nerves。 Come with us; Babs;〃
holding out her left hand to Barbara。 But the latter; with a dexterous
twist; slipped away from her touch。
〃I must stay and straighten the library;〃 she announced。
Mrs。 Brewster's delicate color had deepened。 〃It would be as well to
open some of the doors;〃 she agreed coldly。 〃The library looks odd; not
to say funereal;〃 she glanced down the spacious room and shivered ever so
slightly。 〃Do; Babs; put out some of the lights; they are blinding。〃
〃Oh; I'll turn them all out 〃… Barbara sought the electric switch。
〃But your father …〃
〃No need to worry about father; he can find his way about in the dark
like a cat;〃 responded Barbara with unabated cheerfulness。 〃Seems to me;
Margaret; you and father are getting mighty chummy these days。〃
The sudden darkness into which Barbara's impatient fingers; pressing
against the electric light buttons; plunged the library and its occupants;
prevented her seeing the curious glance which Mrs。 Brewster shot at her。
Helen; who had listened to their chatter with growing impatience; looked
back over her shoulder。
〃Hurry; Barbara; and come upstairs。 Now; Margaret;〃 and she piloted
the widow along the hall toward the staircase without giving her an
opportunity to answer Barbara's last remark。 Barbara; pausing only long
enough to pull back the portieres of the hall door and arrange them as they
hung customarily; turned to go upstairs just as Grimes came down the hall
from the dining room carrying a large tray with pitchers of ice water and
glasses。
〃I thought you had gone to your room; Grimes;〃 she remarked; as the
butler waited respectfully for her to pass him。
〃I've just come in; miss; and found Murray had left the tray in the
dining room;〃 explained Grimes hurriedly。 〃I hope; miss; I'll not disturb
the ladies by knocking at their doors now with this ice water。〃
〃Oh; no; Mrs。 Brewster and Miss Helen have only just gone upstairs。〃
Barbara paused in front of the butler and poured out a glass of water。 〃I
can't wait; Grimes; I am too thirsty。〃
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〃Certainly; miss; that's all right。〃 Grimes craned his head around and
looked up and down the hail; then leaning over he placed the tray on a
convenient table and stepped close to Barbara。
〃I've been reading the newspapers very carefully; miss;〃 he began;
taking care to keep his voice lowered。 〃Especially that part of Mr。
Turnbull's inquest which tells about the post…mortem。〃
〃Well; what then?〃 asked Barbara quickly as the butler paused and
again glanced up and down the hall。
〃Just this; miss;〃 he spoke almost in a whisper。 〃The doctors do say
poor Mr。 Turnbull was poisoned by acca … aconitine;〃 stumbling over the
word。 〃It's a curious thing; miss; that I brought some of that very drug
into this house last Sunday。〃
〃You did!〃 Barbara's fresh young voice rose in astonishment。
〃Hush; miss!〃 The butler raised both hands。 〃Hush!〃 He glanced
cautiously around; then continued。 〃Colonel McIntyre sent me to the
druggist with a prescription from Dr。 Stone for Mrs。 Brewster when she
had romantic neuralgia。〃
〃Had what?〃 Barbara looked puzzled; then giggled; but her mirth
quickly altered to seriousness at sight of the butler's expression。 〃Mrs。
Brewster had a touch of rheumatic neuralgia the first of the month; do you
refer to that?〃
〃Yes; miss。〃 Grimes spoke more rapidly; but kept his voice lowered。
〃The druggist told me what the pills were when I exclaimed at their size …
regular little pellets; no bigger than that;〃 he demonstrated the size with
the tip of his little finger; and would have added more but the gong over
the front door rang out with such suddenness that both he and Barbara
started violently。
〃Just a moment; miss;〃 and he hurried to the front bell; to return after a
brief colloquy with a messenger boy; bearing a letter。 〃It's for Mrs。
Brewster; miss;〃 he explained; as Barbara held out her hand。
〃I'll give it to her and this also;〃 Barbara took the envelope and a small
ice pitcher and glass。 〃Good night; Grimes。 Oh;〃 she stopped midway
up the staircase and waited for the butler to overtake her; 〃Grimes; to
whom did you give the aconitine on Sunday?〃
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〃I didn't give it to nobody; miss。〃 The butler was a trifle short of
breath; his years did not permit him to keep pace with the twins。 〃I was in
a great hurry as the druggist kept me waiting; and I had to serve tea at
once。〃
〃But what did you do with the aconitine pills?〃 demanded Barbara。
〃I left the box on the hail table; miss …〃
〃Great heavens!〃 Barbara stared at the butler; then without a word she
raced up the staircase and disappeared through the open door of Mrs。
Brewster's bedroom。
The light from the hall shone through the transom and doorway in
sufficient volume to clearly indicate the different pieces of furniture; and
Barbara put the pitcher and glass on the bed stand and laid the letter which
Grimes had given her on the dressing table; then went slowly into her own
bedroom。 She could hear voices; which she recognized as those of her
sister and Mrs。 Brewster; coming from Helen's bedroom; but absorbed in
her own thoughts she undressed in the dark and crept into bed just as Mrs。
Brewster passed down the hallway and entered her own room。 The
widow had taken off her evening gown and slippers and donned a
becoming wrapper before she discovered the letter lying on the dresser。
Drawing up a chair she dropped into it; let down her long dark hair; and
settled back in luxuriant comfort against the tufted upholstery before she
ran her well…manicured finger under the flap of the envelope。