At any rate, she must act. If it turned out to be a hoax2 she could apologise afterwards. But, on the other hand, it might be a matter of life and death; it might affect her lover's honour. It was a good thing that Hetty had been fortunate to handle the telegram where she could be secluded3 from the sharp eyes of her employer. Otherwise she would assuredly have betrayed herself. She tore the telegram into tiny fragments and pushed them under the edge of one of the mats. It was far better to be cautious.
She had herself well in hand when she stepped back into the box again. At any hazard she was going to carry out the instructions to the very letter. And she had a fairly good excuse ready to her hand. If Mamie was no better when she got home she would use that as a lever.
The performance came to an end at length. The dapper, smiling little Balmayne handed them both into the carriage and then went off smoking a cigarette like any honest gentleman whose conscience is at peace. Once home Hetty flew up to her little patient. She seemed to be restless and disturbed.
"Dr. Bruce has been, miss," nurse remarked. "He says Miss Mamie is not to be left alone. The Countess was to be told that."
Hetty was deeply interested. Was this another mere4 coincidence or was Bruce acting5 here like a puppet in the hands of the mysterious person who seemed to be pulling the strings6 in the drama? Anyway, it strengthened her hands.
There was a light supper in the dining-room. Countess Lalage talked fitfully, from time to time glancing at the clock. The gilt7 hands were striding on towards a quarter to twelve.
"I'm going to make a late call?" Leona Lalage said suddenly.
"I should like you to see Mamie first," said Hetty. She spoke8 coolly enough, but her heart was beating furiously. "She is not at all well tonight. Dr. Bruce has been here, and says she is not to be left alone. A mother's care----"
The Countess laughed lightly. Her mood seemed friendly.
"Very well," she said, "I'll come up for a moment. I'm not going far, and I shall not be a long time away. If there is a crisis in the case----"
"Mamie is far worse than you imagine," Hetty said coldly. "Your own constitution is so magnificent that you cannot understand weakness in others. If Mamie were mine I should be in grave anxiety about her."
Leona Lalage laughed again. Once more she glanced at the clock.
"Come along then," she said gaily9. "I know I am a bad mother."
The child looked flushed and ill, her hand was hot, and she groaned10 in her sleep. The Countess bent11 and kissed her carelessly. She moved to her own room and Hetty followed. There was just a touch of hauteur12 in the manner of the Countess as she intimated that she had nothing further to say.
"Perhaps I have something to say to you," Hetty said between her teeth.
The hour had come to show her pluck and courage, and Hetty was not going to flinch13. It wanted ten minutes to twelve by the clock on the dressing-table.
"You are forgetting yourself," the Countess said coldly. "Leave the room."
"When I have finished," Hetty replied. "You heard Dr. Bruce's message. He said that child should not be left. You may urge that I am sufficient, but there is a time for a mother's care. If I had my way you should not go."
It all sounded sorry nonsense in Hetty's ears, but she was playing her part, and merely talking against the clock. With blazing eyes the Countess advanced, but Hetty did not flinch.
"Stand aside," she said furiously, "and let me pass. If it was not for the child and the love she has for you I should dismiss you on the spot. Now go."
"I shall not go," Hetty cried. She was surprised at the ease with which she was working herself up into a genuine passion. "Nor shall you pass. You shall stay here as long as I please. Ring the bell and have me put out."
Sheer astonishment14 got the better of Leona Lalage's rage. That Hetty above all people should turn upon her like this was amazing. She looked again at the clock, which pointed15 to four minutes to twelve.
"You are disturbed and hysterical16 tonight," she said. "Go and lie down. I am a strong woman and if you provoke me too far----"
"You shall not go," Hetty gasped17. "I say you shall not go. Nothing less than physical power will induce me to yield."
The anger of the other woman blazed out again magnificently. At the back of her mind was a haunting fear that Hetty was acting a part. It was absolutely imperative18 that she should leave the house at once. How if Hetty had discovered this and was taking this course to prevent her keeping her appointment?
The mere suggestion added flame to her anger. She caught Hetty by the arm and dragged her from the door. There was a crash and a tear as the dress sleeve parted, the quick rattle19 of a key in the lock, and a defiant20 smile from Hetty.
"I may be mad," she gasped, "but there is method in it. I may not----"
A deadly faintness came over her, she staggered to a chair and fell into it. As she did so the great clock on the landing boomed the hour of midnight.
Nothing mattered now, the thing was done, the victory accomplished21. In a vague kind of way Hetty heard the cry of rage and disappointment uttered by her companion, she felt the key snatched with cruel force from her hand, there was a whirl of draperies and footsteps flying down the stairs.
Hetty dragged herself to her feet. She was utterly22 exhausted23 with her fight, but there was the fierce triumph of knowing that she had won. She had played her part and the rest of it was in cleverer hands than her own.
Meanwhile the Countess was tugging24 with impatient fingers at the hasp of the drawing-room windows. There was murder in her heart.
"The little Jezebel," she muttered. "Was it madness, or what? At last!"
The window flew open and she raced down the garden like a hare.
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收听单词发音
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1
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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2
hoax
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| v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧 | |
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3
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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4
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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5
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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6
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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7
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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8
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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9
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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10
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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11
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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12
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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13
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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14
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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15
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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16
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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17
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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18
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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19
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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20
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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21
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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22
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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24
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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