Knowing her intimate relations with the mistress
of the house, the servant admitted her to the parlour and announced
her presence to Judge Lawrence, who left the bedside of the invalid
to tell the caller in person that Mrs Lawrence had fallen into a
peaceful slumber, and that slight hopes were entertained of her
possible recovery. Scarcely had the words passed his lips, however,
when the nurse in attendance hurriedly called him. "Mrs Lawrence is
dead!" she cried. "She breathed only twice after you left the room."
The Baroness, shocked and startled, rose to go, feeling that her
presence longer would be an intrusion.
"Do not go," cried the Judge in tones of distress. "Mabel is nearly
distracted, and this news will excite her still further. We thought
this morning that she was on the verge of serious mental disorder. I
sent for her fiance, Mr Cheney, and he has calmed her somewhat. You
always exerted a soothing and restful influence over my wife, and you
may have the same power with Mabel. Stay with us, I beg of you,
through the afternoon at least."
The Baroness sent her carriage home and remained in the Lawrence
mansion until the following morning. The condition of Miss Lawrence
was indeed serious. She passed from one attack of hysteria to
another, and it required the constant attention of her fiance and her
mother's friend to keep her from acts of violence.
Pages:
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52