"There's a veil of beauty as wonderful as that the king's son brought
home. Surely it's fine and subtle enough to pass through the eye of a
cambric needle!"
She handed the crystal to me with a tender smile.
"Keep it, Son of a King! And, if you win me, I'll see you clad in those
rainbow hues all my life long!"
At one o'clock I was in the train on the way to town, deliberating my
plan and arranging for the preparations I must make.
*PART THIRD*
*I*
I started back for Midmeadows at ten o'clock the next day. It was a
fine breezy morning and the country-side was full of odors. The sky was
an intense blue, abounding in great rolling white clouds which spotted
it like the continents and islands of a huge map upon which some titanic
Napoleon was continually carving and remodeling new realms and empires
of the firmament.
I paid less attention to them, however, than I did to the mental empire
it was now my purpose to overthrow. If thunder and lightning could
burst the cloud that kept the sunshine from my sweetheart's life, I was
determined to conjure that storm.
I had, during my few hours in town, consulted a medical friend upon
Joy's case, and while he gave no professional approval to my project, he
had not denied the possibility of its being effective in producing a
cure. Such conditions as Miss Fielding's were by no means rare, but they
had been so little studied, except phenomenally, that there was no
authorized course of treatment known. Each had to be dealt with
according to its especial characteristics, and according to
circumstances. He had talked to me a good deal concerning "subliminal
selves," of the theory of "successive planes of consciousness" and of
"isolated personalities," ending with the statement that, so far as any
definite knowledge of the psychology of multiple or dissociated
personality was concerned, even doctors were the merest laymen. Of its
actual rationale they knew virtually nothing, though in some cases the
disintegrated personalities had been synthesized into a normal self by
means of hypnotic treatment.
I had left Joy herself, yesterday, and, in view of her accelerated
alternations, due to the doctor's influence, I had every reason to
expect to find Edna to-day in control. My chief hope was that she and
Leah were still upon amicable terms, and that they would be alone in the
house. But there had been time for many things to happen, and I awaited
the news with considerable anxiety, though braced for any ordeal that
might come--except, of course, what did come. I dismissed the carriage
at the lane and walked the rest of the way.
There was no sign of life outside the house; I went up to the front door
and knocked. It was some time before my summons was answered, and then,
to my dismay, by Doctor Copin. This was worse than I had feared.
"Oh, how d'you do, Castle?" he said, making no move to let me in.
"I'm down again, you see. I believe Miss Fielding is expecting me," I
said, as coolly as I could.
He stood with his hand on the door, defending the entrance. "I'm very
sorry to say that Miss Fielding is not well to-day, and she can't see
you."
"Can't see me! Why, that's impossible. She knows perfectly well that I
was to return to-day!"
"She's said nothing about it to me, if she does. At any rate, she's in
no condition to see anybody, and I must ask you to leave."
"Would you mind telling her that I'm here?" I said.
"I'll speak to her, if you like, though I don't particularly care to
disturb her at present. Wait a moment, and I'll see how she is."
He shut the door and, I think, locked it. I waited on the step, hoping
for a sight of Leah, and trying to make up my mind what to do if I were
refused admittance. I might attempt to enter by force, but, with the
doctor there, I could not possibly put my project into action. He
finally reappeared with a long face.
"Miss Fielding begs to be excused," he announced.
"It's most extraordinary; I must insist on seeing her!" I cried.
"You certainly don't wish to force yourself in where you're not wanted?"
he insinuated.
"If I were sure I wasn't wanted, no. But I don't believe you took my
message in to her at all."
"I'll accept that insult, Mr. Castle, and we'll settle it at some other
time. Just now, I must ask you to leave immediately. You may happen to
recall what I told you the last time we met. As Miss Fielding's fiance
it is not only my right but my duty to see that you go."
"And do you recall my own words on that occasion! I have as good a
right to insist upon entering!" I maintained.
"Well, well, this is no time to discuss that, for my presence is needed
in the house," he replied. "As I am engaged to Miss Fielding, No. 2, if
you please to accept that designation, and as it is No. 2 who is at
present receiving me, you'll perhaps see the force of my claim."
It was infamous to have to stand bickering with him, and, as it could do
no good to enact a scene, I turned away, lifted my hat and bade him
"good morning!" He bowed, shut the green door, and this time I
distinctly heard the key turn in the lock.
I was for a moment at a loss how to proceed, but walked slowly down the
lane. At the bend I looked back and saw Leah at an upper window
gesticulating to me. I stopped and watched her.
From her signs I gathered that she wished to meet me, and, being careful
to make no signal in return, I passed out of sight and waited. It was
fifteen minutes before she appeared, coming through the underbrush,
having made a detour from the back of the house to escape observation.
"Oh, Mr. Castle," she said breathlessly, "it's dreadful! The doctor has
been down here since early in the forenoon, and he has been with Edna
all the time, shut up in the library."
"What are they doing? Could you see or hear?"
"Oh, what _aren't_ they doing!" she exclaimed, turning away. "It's
unbearable. I don't see how you can stand it!"
"I can't stand it! I won't stand it! I'll break down the door if they
won't let me in!" I broke out. "I'll kill him!"
Leah caught my hand and stopped me. "It's no use," she said, "Edna
herself won't let you in, I'm afraid. She's different this morning. I
never saw her so much under his influence. Usually she jokes with him
and teases him in all sorts of ways, but to-day she's more quiet and
determined."
"Has she treated you badly?"
"No--if it were only that, I wouldn't care. It's something more
dangerous. She's crafty and secret. It's sinister. It makes my flesh
crawl!"
"Do you know how long the doctor will stay?"
"He's going back this afternoon, I think. That's why he's working so
hard with her, I suppose. She's like a bird with a serpent--she's
fascinated by him."
"What did he say to her--did you hear?"
"He has been hypnotizing her. I heard him say, '_You will be Edna,
Edna, Edna!_'--he repeated it over and over."
"You must go back to the house, then, immediately. You mustn't be
missed on any account. Do your best to placate her and avoid trouble.
I'll watch in the old cabin till he goes past. As soon as he's out of
the way, I'll come."
She was off on the instant through the wood toward the back of the
house. I walked down the lane and along the highroad a little way, to
the deserted cabin. Here I took my post behind a window and waited
patiently.
A couple of hours went by. It was an eternity to me. A hundred times I
decided to go and break down the door of the house and have it out with
the doctor. I had a couple of revolvers in my bag and the temptation to
shoot him on sight was strong. When I thought of what was probably going
on in the house--of Joy's body, perhaps, at his mercy--it was all I
could do to remember that my intervention at this moment would ruin all
hopes of her eventual release from his power. I bore it for her sake,
with my teeth gritted, thinking mad thoughts.
At last I heard the rattle of wheels and saw the carriage approach.
Uncle Jerdon was driving; the doctor, smoking a cigar, was laughing
complacently. I shrank out of sight till they had passed. Then I left
the cottage and ran up the lane.
Edna was sitting outside on the door-step as I approached, but, on
seeing me, she rose and went quickly inside, shutting the door. She was
indeed different, if she failed to welcome me. My heart fell, but I
went up to the door and knocked. No answer. I knocked again, and,
after a long wait, Leah appeared.
By her first glance at me, and an almost imperceptible nod of her head
toward the library door, I knew that Edna was near by, watching and
listening. I was not surprised, therefore, when, in answer to my
greeting and question, Leah replied:
"Miss Fielding is sorry that she can't see you to-day. She's not well.
She says that she sent you that word before."
"Mayn't I even speak to her for a moment?" I asked.
"She begs that you will excuse her, Mr. Castle." Leah's eyes gave me
another sign.
"Very well, then; tell her I'm much disappointed, but I won't trouble
her again." I added a gesture in the direction of the lane and walked
away without looking back. I felt that Edna was watching from the
library window. Leah closed the door.
I went a little way down the lane, searching my mind for some means of
combating this unlooked-for contretemps. I had discovered a possible
way out before Leah appeared, a half-hour later.
"Oh, I'm afraid she'll miss me this time!" she said, her eyes wide and
frightened. "I took my chances, though, and you must be quick. What
shall I do?"
"I am going over to the Harbor," I said. "I shall be back, probably in
about an hour and a half, and I'll wait here for you. You must find
some excuse for coming again. Then I'll give you your instructions. If
anything happens that positively prevents your coming, hang a towel out
of my window. That's all now; go back!"
She flew back to the house, and I started for the village, where I knew
there was an apothecary's shop. In forty minutes I had, with some
difficulty, procured what I wanted, a bottle of chloroform. But it was
two hours before I got back to Midmeadows. Approaching the house, and
keeping carefully hidden by the trees, I saw that there was no signal at
the window, and knew that I could expect Leah. I retired a few yards
beyond the curve and waited for her.
It was by this time about half-past six o'clock in the evening, and it
was still light and warm, though the shadows were long about the old
house. I had done a deal of waiting that day, and it had begun to tell
on me. It was a great relief when Leah appeared, looking about
anxiously. I came out from hiding.
"How goes it!" I asked.
"All right, but she's been restless and fretful. I shouldn't have been
able to get off possibly, if she hadn't decided to take a walk before
supper. She's gone up over the hill. What are you going to do, Mr.
Castle?"
I handed her the bottle, and as she caught sight of the label her hand
shook so that she nearly dropped it.
"What we'll have to do is to put her to sleep, so that Joy may return.
I don't know, of course, whether it will work or not, but it's the only
way I can think of. Have the bottle ready, hidden in the library, and
wait till she sits down to supper. Then go in quickly, soak your
handkerchief with the chloroform, come up behind her, and hold it to her
face tightly--with all your strength, for she'll struggle--till her head
drops. You must act quickly and firmly. If she has the slightest
suspicion of anything, you'll fail, and we're lost. As soon as you've
laid her on the floor, call me. I'll be right outside, ready to come
in."
"But King?" she asked, trying hard to control her excitement.
"If King sees you, or attempts to interfere, tell him that I am trying
to drive out Miss Fielding's devil. But he won't, I think. Is Uncle
Jerdon there?"
"No, he's gone after the cow--he won't come into the kitchen till after
seven o'clock, when he's through with his milking."
"Very well, then. Can you do it? Have you the nerve?"
"Yes. I'll do anything to bring back Miss Joy!"
She held herself erect, her lips compressed, looking at me bravely,
though immensely agitated. I knew that whatever the struggle might cost
her, I could rely upon her to rise to the situation. I sent her away
with a final word of encouragement.
I waited some ten minutes more; then cautiously approached the house,
went close to the library window, and looked in.
It was not long before I saw Miss Fielding enter from the hall door,
take up a paper, look it over listlessly, and then, at the sound of
King's gong, go into the dining-room and take her seat. This was just
outside my range of vision, but occasionally, as she leaned back, I
caught sight of her head. Leah passed and repassed several times,
waiting upon her. I watched in an excited suspense.
I had begun to fear that the girl had lost her courage, when I saw her
suddenly dart into the library, take the bottle from behind the books in
one of the cases, and open it, drenching her handkerchief. At that very
moment Edna must have called; for a moment I saw her head, as she turned
round to look into the library. Then it disappeared again. Leah stole
back into the dining-room, with the handkerchief held behind her.
She stopped back of Edna's chair. Then her right hand flew round with
the handkerchief, and her left covered it. There was a short hard
struggle, as Edna tried to free herself, but Leah held firm, crouching
behind her mistress, tense and determined.
I waited for no more, but ran to the front door, through the library and
into the dining-room.
Miss Fielding sat huddled into her chair, limp, inert, her arms hanging
at her sides. Leah still stood behind her, staring, her eyes showing the
whites above her pupils, her lips parted. She remained as if transfixed
at the sight of what she had done.
I seized the unconscious form, and, taking it up in my arms, bore it
into the library and laid it upon the couch in the window. Leah
followed, without a word, still staring stupidly. I thrust her, then,
into a chair, fearing that she might faint.