I began to cough, to inform Dooneea that I was within hearing, and that
I objected to that strain of examination. She ceased immediately.
I had an engagement to ride with a lady on the Mall. My horse was
brought to the door; but I was afraid to leave Dooneea alone with the
boy, notwithstanding her solemn promise that she would not run off
with him. Yet I did not like to hurry that eternal separation on earth
which, for the boy's sake, I was determined their separation should be.
I walked up and down my verandah for some time, meditating how I
could part them. At last it occurred to me that I would send the boy
away to his school by stratagem, and trust to chance how I might best
explain to Dooneea that he would not return. I ordered a _syce_ (groom)
to saddle a little pony that I possessed, and told Dooneea that I
wished the boy to take a ride with me, and that while we were absent,
she ought to take some food. It stung me to the soul to witness how
innocent she was of my intentions; for she seemed pleased that I should
show her child so much attention as to be seen in public with him.
As soon as we were out of sight of my house, I took the road for
Landour, delivered the boy over to his schoolmaster, told my groom
to keep the pony out till after dark, cantered to the Mall, kept my
engagement, and returned to my home at about half-past seven o'clock.
There was Dooneea waiting for us in the verandah.
"Where is the boy?" she inquired, on finding me return alone.
I gave her no reply; but dismounted and approached her. Taking hold of
her wrists, I said, in the gentlest voice, "Dooneea, I have fulfilled
my promise. You have seen your child, you have spoken to him, you have
kissed him. Enough. He has now gone back to school. You must not see
him again, if you really love him."
She trembled in my grasp, looked piteously in my face, gasped several
times for breath, as though she longed to speak, and swooned at my
feet. I lifted her, carried her into the house, and laid her upon
my bed; then sent for servants, and for a doctor, who lived near my
bungalow. The doctor came. While he felt her pulse, and placed his
hand over her heart, I briefly explained to him what had taken place.
He still kept his finger on the vein, and gazed on Dooneea's beautiful
face. Blood began to trickle from her nostrils, and from her ears,
staining the bed linen and the squalid garments in which she had
attired herself. In a few minutes the doctor released his hold of her
wrist. "Poor thing!" he ejaculated. "Her troubles are over! She is at
rest!"
---- Never more on her
Shall sorrow light, or shame.
She was dead.
* * * * *
The old woman whom Dooneea called "mother," and the soldier-like
looking youth whom she called "brother," decamped with her jewels and
moveables, including my dog, "Duke;" but the house near Hurdwar,
and the bank shares--property to the value of about four thousand
pounds--remain invested in the names of trustees for the benefit of the
boy; who will, I trust, make good use of his little fortune, when he
becomes of age.