the boy had done.

“I had no opportunity of asking her any questions, until I had

told the brothers she was sinking fast, and could not live another

day. Until then, though no one was ever presented to her

consciousness save the woman and myself, one or other of them

had always jealously sat behind the curtain at the head of the bed

when I was there. But when it came to that, they seemed careless

what communication I might hold with her; as ifthe thought

passed through my mindI were dying too.

“I always observed that their pride bitterly resented the

younger brother’s (as I call him) having crossed swords with a

peasant and that peasant a boy. The only consideration that

appeared to affect the mind of either of them was the

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

consideration that this was highly degrading to the family, and

was ridiculous. As often as I caught the younger brother’s eyes,

their expression reminded me that he disliked me deeply, for

knowing what I knew from the boy. He was smoother and more

polite to me than the elder; but I saw this. I also saw that I was an

incumbrance in the mind of the elder, too.

“My patient died, two hours before midnightat a time, by my

watch, answering almost to the minute when I had first seen her. I

was alone with her, when her forlorn young head dropped gently

on one side, and all her earthly wrongs and sorrows ended.

“The brothers were waiting in a room down-stairs, impatient to

ride away. I had heard them, alone at the bedside, striking their

boots with their riding-whips, and loitering up and down.

“‘At last she is dead?’ said the elder, when I went in.

“‘She is dead,’ said I.

“‘I congratulate you, my brother,’ were his words as he turned

round.

“He had before offered me money, which I had postponed

taking. He now gave me a rouleau of gold. I took it from his hand,

but laid it on the table. I had considered the question, and had

resolved to accept nothing.

“‘Pray excuse me,’ said I. ‘Under the circumstances, no.’

“They exchanged looks, but bent their heads to me as I bent

mine to them, and we parted without another word on either side.

“I am weary, weary, wearyworn down by misery; I cannot

read what I have written with this gaunt hand.

“Early in the morning, the rouleau of gold was left at my door in

a little box, with my name on the outside. From the first, I had

anxiously considered what I ought to do. I decided, that day, to

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write privately to the Minister, stating the nature of the two cases

to which I had been summoned, and the place to which I had

gone: in effect, stating all the circumstances. I knew what Court

influence was, and what the immunities of the Nobles were, and I

expected that the matter would never be heard of; but, I wished to

relieve my own mind. I had kept the matter a profound secret,