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Page 57
"A specialist? How can he help me? You hired that Mr. Adam Adams but
he has deserted me. But then--but then--he must have learned the
truth!" She gave a sob and buried her face in her hands. "Yes, he
must have learned the truth!"
"Margaret, do keep quiet, please!" he pleaded. "You need rest, you
must have rest."
"No, I want to talk, to tell you something, Raymond. I--I want you to
go away."
"Away? Oh, Margaret!"
"Yes, away--you mustn't come near me any more. You are innocent and it
isn't right that you should suffer with me. You must go away and
forget me."
"I'll never do that. You mustn't even dream of such a thing. We are
going to get you well, and we are going to prove your innocence to the
world."
"My innocence? Oh, Raymond, don't speak so--it cuts me like a knife!"
"But I mean it," he said firmly.
"Yes, yes, I know--you are so good-hearted, so true! But haven't I
told you? Must I go over it again? The ring, the blood--"
"Margaret!"
"And that note, and the quarrels, and all. Didn't they prove that I
was guilty? Yes, they proved it, and I must--must-- Will they hang
me or electrocute me? I wonder how it feels to be hung or
electrocuted?" She gave a hollow, bitter laugh. "I'll soon know, I
suppose!" And then she fell back on her pillow exhausted.
The nurse had been aroused by the talking and stood in the doorway.
She gazed questioningly at the young man.
"Did you wake her up?"
"No, she roused up and insisted upon talking."
"She ought to be kept quiet. I'll give her another powder."
"Had you not better wait until the specialist arrives?"
"Well, we can do that--if he isn't delayed too long."
After that the time dragged heavily. Just before train time Raymond
took a coach to the depot and there met the specialist and told his
story as the pair were driven rapidly to the house.
"It is a purely nervous shock, undoubtedly," said the specialist. "I
will first find out from the nurse what the other doctor has given her."
He was soon in consultation with Martha Sampson. In the midst of this
Doctor Bird arrived. The local physician was willing enough to
transfer the case to new hands.
"I am of the opinion that she is guilty," he said in private to the
specialist. "Mr. Case, of course, thinks differently. You can figure
it out to suit yourself," and he told exactly what he had done and then
went away, not to return.
Doctor Fanning watched at the sufferer's side for over an hour, before
Margaret roused up again. The girl was very weak and spoke
disconnectedly, but always in the same strain. She went over the scene
at the inquest several times, and spoke of the blood on the engagement
ring, as if that was the crown of her misfortunes. Then she sat up
suddenly and looked at the new doctor.
"Are you the judge?" she demanded. "If you are I will tell you all. I
am guilty--they proved it! I am guilty! guilty! guilty!" she repeated
the words over and over again, until she fell back on the pillow as
before. Then she became delirious and it took both the nurse and
Raymond to hold her. The doctor speedily opened up his case of
medicines and gave her a hypodermic injection in the forearm. Then he
made an examination of the patient, lasting some time.
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