"Mrs. Ocumpaugh, we may never have another moment together in
confidence. There is one thing I have never told you, something which I
think you ought to know, as it may affect your whole future course. It
concerns Gwendolen's real mother. You say you do not know her."
"No, no; do not bring up that. I do not want to know her. My darling is
happy with Mrs. Carew--too happy. O God! Give me no opportunity for
disturbing that contentment. Don't you see that I am consumed with
jealousy? That I might--"
She was roused enough now, cheek and lip and brow were red; even her
eyes looked blood-shot. Alarmed, I put out my hand in a soothing
gesture, and when her voice stopped and her words trailed off into an
inarticulate murmur I made haste to say:
"Listen to my little story. It will not add to your pain, rather
alleviate it. When I hid behind the curtain on that day we all regret, I
did not slip from my post at your departure. I knew that another patient
awaited the doctor's convenience in my own small room, where he had
hastily seated her when your carriage drove up. I also knew that this
patient had overheard what you said as well as I, for impervious as the
door looked I had often heard the doctor's mutterings when he thought I
was safe beyond ear-shot, if not asleep. And I wanted to see how she
would act when she rejoined the doctor; for I had heard a little of what
she had said before, and was quite aware that she could help you out of
your difficulty if she wished. She was a married woman, or rather had
been, but she had no use for a child, being very poor and anxious to
earn her own living. Would she embrace this opportunity to part with it
when it came? You may imagine my interest, boy though I was."
"And did she? Was she--"
"Yes. She was ready to make her compact with the doctor just as you had
done. Before she left everything was arranged for. It was her child you
took--reared--loved--and have now lost."
At another time she might have resented these words, especially the
last; but I had roused her curiosity, her panting eager curiosity, and
she let them pass altogether unchallenged.
"Did you see this woman? Was she of common blood, common manners? It
does not seem possible--Gwendolen is by nature so dainty in all her
ways."
"The woman was a lady. I did not see her face, it was heavily veiled,
but I heard her voice; it was a lady's voice and--"
"What?"
"She wore beautiful jewels."
"Jewels? You said she was poor."
"So she declared herself, but she had on her neck under her coat a
string of beads which were both valuable and of exquisite workmanship. I
know, because it broke just as she was leaving, and the beads fell all
over the floor, and one rolled my way and I picked it up, scamp that I
was, when both their backs were turned in their search for the others."
"A bead--a costly bead--and you were not found out?"
"No, Mrs. Ocumpaugh, she never seemed to miss it. She was too excited
over what she had just done to count correctly. She thought she had
them all. But this has been in my pocket for six years. Perhaps you have
seen its like; I never have, in jeweler's shop or elsewhere, till
yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Her great eyes, haggard with suffering, rose to mine, then
they fell on the bead which I had taken from my pocket. The cry she gave
was not loud, but it effectually settled all my doubts.
"What did you know of Mrs. Carew before she came to ----?" I asked
impressively.
For minutes she did not answer; she was trembling like a leaf.
"Her mother!" she exclaimed at last. "Her mother! her own mother! And
she never hinted it to me by word or look. Oh, Valerie, Valerie, what
tortures we have both suffered! and now you are happy while I--"
Grief seemed to engulf her. Feeling my position keenly, I walked to the
window, but soon turned and came back in response to her cry: "I must
see Mrs. Carew instantly. Give my orders. I will start at once to New
York. They will think I have gone to be on hand to meet Mr. Ocumpaugh,
and will say that I have not the strength. Override their objections. I
put my whole cause in your hands. You will go with me?"
"With pleasure, madam."
And thus was that terrifying apathy broken up, to be succeeded by a
spell of equally terrifying energy.