|After closing the door, Mrs. Calverley approached the large Psyche that
stood opposite her, and ejaculated, “No wonder Laura was struck by my
appearance! I do look frightfully pale! I must take care my looks don't
betray me.”
But her countenance assumed a deathly hue, and her limbs seemed scarcely
able to support her as she moved towards the door communicating with,
the dressing-room.
There she stopped, her entrance, apparently, being barred by a shadowy
figure resembling her dead husband.
But Teresa, as we have shown, was a woman of high courage, and not to be
daunted by superstitious fears.
Convinced that the figure was a mere effect of her imagination, she
passed into the inner room, and then, standing still for a moment till
she had quite recovered her self-possession, proceeded to unlock a large
dressing-box that stood upon the toilet-table, and took from it a small
casket apparently containing scent bottles.
When the casket, in its turn, was unlocked by a diminutive and
peculiarly-shaped key, four very small phials were disclosed.
Teresa selected one of them, filled, as it seemed, with a very bright
spirit, held it up for a moment, and then, taking out the stopper,
breathed at the contents of the phial.
Just then a slight noise disturbed her, and she became aware that she
was watched by Laura, who was standing at the bed-room door.
Though appalled at the sight, she exhibited no sign of alarm, but with
the utmost coolness said:
“I thought some _eau-de-luce_ would do me good. I always take it for the
_migraine_ from which I am now suffering. But you need not stay. Order
the pony-carriage in half an hour, and be ready yourself by that time,
Laura.”
Not for an instant doubting the truth of what she was told, Laura
withdrew; and she was no sooner gone than Mrs. Calverley wrapped the
small phial in her embroidered pocket-handkerchief, and then replaced
the casket, and carefully locked the dressing-box.