A Duel

parently some one had been in while she still slept and put the room in order. The blinds were up, the curtains drawn back, the sun streamed in through the small square windows

rniture was of the oddest shapes; indeed, what some of the articles might be intended for was beyond her comprehension. As she gradually absorbed it all,

ing for the pain to go. It was some time before it diminished; even when it was easier she learnt, to her dismay, that she would have to be very careful in her movements if she did not wish it to return with probably increasing violence. Her foot seemed, from the feel of it, to be about as bad as it could be. It was not only useless, it held

ory Lamb--which she had opened and read, the letter with the Islington post-mark, containing the curt refusal to accord him further help; the resolution to leave him, which she had i

at movement of any sort meant pain, under the bolster, and produced from it the bag in question and the glo

sprained her ankle, and, in her trouble, had forgotten its existence; in which case it might be still upon the moor. If it were found, and nothing could be learned of her, what deductions would be drawn

his death-bed. Such a man and such a death-bed! Could it be possible? She clenched her fists, and asked herself if the whole b

She would be a wealthy woman, who had won her wealth so easily without incurring risk worth mention. Because, even in the storm and stress of the moment, she had understood that bigamy was bigamy, even though one of the marriages into which she had entered was a Scotch one. Of course, nothing could make that marriage of the night before a real one, since she was a wife already. But, as the man was dead, and she was supposed to be his widow, if fortune favoure

if it had been his property, was now hers. At least she hoped it was, because, after a little muddled consideration, it began to occur to her that, by English law, a wife did not necessarily inherit all that a husband who had died intestate left behind him. Exactly what share was hers she was not sure, but she had a more or less dim conviction that it wa

voice was a strong one--she exerted it to the utmost--but it seemed that it was not strong enough to reach

she can treat me as she likes. If I could move I'd soon show her. Nannie! Nannie!" She shouted till she could really shout no longer. No one came; nor was there anything to show that she was heard. She began to be possessed by a fres

y exhausted, she lay and thought hard things of every one. She was genuinely hungry. She told herself that if some one did not come soon and bring her food something wo

her hand, quite calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world that

me before? You must have heard me long ago--you'

re, arranging the pillows so that they formed a prop for her back. Divided between indignation and bewilderment, Isabel submitted in silence; she was

ll I'll come and take a lo

been in agony--and am still.

it's no bu

t. Where's Dr. Twelves? He ought to attend to it at onc

and gone

didn't you let me kn

hould I let

at I wished

nyway, he never said that

our mercy, and that you can do as you like with me

that age is the only diffe

he was at the other's mercy, and she knew it. The only way to obtain from her some slight consideration was to endeavour t

husband

t was practicall

ust ask Dr. Twelves, since he's knowin

another opportunity to sp

nd that she had met her match. When that lady was really roused, and had a fair chance to show it, she was a difficult person to deal with.

say or do, which influenced her more than she would have cared to own. Then the pain she endured was exquisite. Nannie's ministrations were deft enough. She set about her task like one who understood well what she had to do, and was capable of doing it. She removed the bandages, bathe

ar her. Whether the fault was his or her attendant's was more than she could determine. She heard no news of any sort or kind.

ion, grew apace. More than once she attempted to get out of bed and to start on a voyage of exploration through the house to acquire information on her own account. Since, however, her attempts only resulted in disaster, and it was made plain that the

get out of bed she would. Nannie, as was her wont, kept silence when this piece of information was vouchsafed to her. But that she was impressed by it was evident when on the morrow in question, instead of the old woman, Dr. Twelves came into t