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Trust a mothera devoted mother； my dear friend！〃 With such words
as these I tried to soothe and comfort him； and； marvellous to
relate； I succeeded； with the help of many cigarettes； in making him
walk about the garden and talk； or suffer me at least to do so； for
near an hour。 When about that time had elapsed his sister
reappeared； reaching us rapidly and with a convulsed face while she
held her hand to her heart。
〃Go for the Doctor； Markgo for the Doctor this moment！〃
〃Is he dying？ Has she killed him？〃 my poor friend cried； flinging
away his cigarette。
〃I don't know what she has done！ But she's frightened； and now she
wants the Doctor。〃
〃He told me he'd be hanged if he came back！〃 I felt myself obliged
to mention。
〃Preciselytherefore Mark himself must go for him； and not a
messenger。 You must see him and tell him it's to save your child。
The trap has been orderedit's ready。〃
〃To save him？ I'll save him； please God！〃 Ambient cried； bounding
with his great strides across the lawn。
As soon as he had gone I felt I ought to have volunteered in his
place； and I said as much to Miss Ambient； but she checked me by
grasping my arm while we heard the wheels of the dog…cart rattle away
from the gate。 〃He's offhe's offand now I can think！ To get him
awaywhile I thinkwhile I think！〃
〃While you think of what； Miss Ambient？〃
〃Of the unspeakable thing that has happened under this roof！〃
Her manner was habitually that of such a prophetess of ill that I at
first allowed for some great extravagance。 But I looked at her hard；
and the next thing felt myself turn white。 〃Dolcino IS dying then
he's dead？〃
〃It's too late to save him。 His mother has let him die！ I tell you
that because you're sympathetic； because you've imagination；〃 Miss
Ambient was good enough to add； interrupting my expression of horror。
〃That's why you had the idea of making her read Mark's new book！〃
〃What has that to do with it？ I don't understand you。 Your
accusation's monstrous。〃
〃I see it allI'm not stupid；〃 she went on； heedless of my emphasis。
〃It was the book that finished herit was that decided her！〃
〃Decided her？ Do you mean she has murdered her child？〃 I demanded；
trembling at my own words。
〃She sacrificed him； she determined to do nothing to make him live。
Why else did she lock herself in； why else did she turn away the
Doctor？ The book gave her a horror； she determined to rescue himto
prevent him from ever being touched。 He had a crisis at two o'clock
in the morning。 I know that from the nurse； who had left her then；
but whom； for a short time； she called back。 The darling got munch
worse； but she insisted on the nurse's going back to bed； and after
that she was alone with him for hours。〃
I listened with a dread that stayed my credence； while she stood
there with her tearless glare。 〃Do you pretend then she has no pity；
that she's cruel and insane？〃
〃She held him in her arms； she pressed him to her breast； not to see
him； but she gave him no remedies； she did nothing the Doctor
ordered。 Everything's there untouched。 She has had the honesty not
even to throw the drugs away！〃
I dropped upon the nearest bench； overcome with my dismayquite as
much at Miss Ambient's horrible insistence and distinctness as at the
monstrous meaning of her words。 Yet they came amazingly straight；
and if they did have a sense I saw myself too woefully figure in it。
Had I been then a proximate cause ？ 〃You're a very strange woman
and you say incredible things；〃 I could only reply。
She had one of her tragic headshakes。 〃You think it necessary to
protest； but you're really quite ready to believe me。 You've
received an impression of my sister…in…lawyou've guessed of what
she's capable。〃
I don't feel bound to say what concession on this score I made to
Miss Ambient； who went on to relate to me that within the last half…
hour Beatrice had had a revulsion； that she was tremendously
frightened at what she had done； that her fright itself betrayed her；
and that she would now give heaven and earth to save the child。 〃Let
us hope she will！〃 I said； looking at my watch and trying to time
poor Ambient； whereupon my companion repeated all portentously
〃Let us hope so！〃 When I asked her if she herself could do nothing；
and whether she oughtn't to be with her sister…in…law； she replied：
〃You had better go and judge！ She's like a wounded tigress！〃
I never saw Mrs。 Ambient till six months after this； and therefore
can't pretend to have verified the comparison。 At the latter period
she was again the type of the perfect lady。 〃She'll treat him better
after this；〃 I remember her sister…in…law's saying in response to
some quick outburst； on my part； of compassion for her brother。
Though I had been in the house but thirty…six hours this young lady
had treated me with extraordinary confidence； and there was therefore
a certain demand I might； as such an intimate； make of her。 I
extracted from her a pledge that she'd never say to her brother what
she had just said to me； that she'd let him form his own theory of
his wife's conduct。 She agreed with me that there was misery enough
in the house without her contributing a new anguish； and that Mrs。
Ambient's proceedings might be explained； to her husband's mind； by
the extravagance of a jealous devotion。 Poor Mark came back with the
Doctor much sooner than we could have hoped； but we knew five minutes
afterwards that it was all too late。 His sole； his adored little son
was more exquisitely beautiful in death than he had been in life。
Mrs。 Ambient's grief was frantic； she lost her head and said strange
things。 As for Mark'sbut I won't speak of that。 Basta； basta； as
he used to say。 Miss Ambient kept her secretI've already had
occasion to say that she had her good pointsbut it rankled in her
conscience like a guilty participation and； I imagine； had something
to do with her ultimately retiring from the world。 And； apropos of
consciences； the reader is now in a position to judge of my
compunction for my effort to convert my cold hostess。 I ought to
mention that the death of her child in some degree converted her。
When the new book came out （it was long delayed） she read it over as
a whole； and her husband told me that during the few supreme weeks
before her deathshe failed rapidly after losing her son； sank into
a consumption and faded away at Mentoneshe even dipped into the
black 〃Beltraffio。〃
End