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sent me away to my bed。
I fell asleep for a little； and woke again。 My mother's bed…
chamber was next to mine。 I heard my aunt Chance's heavy footsteps
going to and fro in the room； and； suspecting something wrong；
knocked at the door。 My mother's pains had returned upon her；
there was a serious necessity for relieving her sufferings as
speedily as possible； I put on my clothes； and ran off； with the
medicine bottle in my hand； to the other end of the village； where
the doctor lived。 The church clock chimed the quarter to two on my
birthday just as I reached his house。 One ring of the night bell
brought him to his bedroom window to speak to me。 He told me to
wait； and he would let me in at the surgery door。 I noticed； while
I was waiting； that the night was wonderfully fair and warm for the
time of year。 The old stone quarry where the carriage accident had
happened was within view。 The moon in the clear heavens lit it up
almost as bright as day。
In a minute or two the doctor let me into the surgery。 I closed
the door； noticing that he had left his room very lightly clad。 He
kindly pardoned my mother's neglect of his directions； and set to
work at once at compounding the medicine。 We were both intent on
the bottle； he filling it； and I holding the lightwhen we heard
the surgery door suddenly opened from the street。
VIII
Who could possibly be up and about in our quiet village at the
second hour of the morning？
The person who opened the door appeared within range of the light
of the candle。 To complete our amazement； the person proved to be
a woman！ She walked up to the counter； and standing side by side
with me； lifted her veil。 At the moment when she showed her face；
I heard the church clock strike two。 She was a stranger to me； and
a stranger to the doctor。 She was also； beyond all comparison； the
most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life。
〃I saw the light under the door；〃 she said。 〃I want some
medicine。〃
She spoke quite composedly； as if there was nothing at all
extraordinary in her being out in the village at two in the
morning； and following me into the surgery to ask for medicine！
The doctor stared at her as if he suspected his own eyes of
deceiving him。 〃Who are you？〃 be asked。 〃How do you come to be
wandering about at this time in the morning？〃
She paid no heed to his questions。 She only told him coolly what
she wanted。 〃I have got a bad toothache。 I want a bottle of
laudanum。〃
The doctor recovered himself when she asked for the laudanum。 He
was on his own ground； you know； when it came to a matter of
laudanum； and he spoke to her smartly enough this time。
〃Oh； you have got the toothache； have you？ Let me look at the
tooth。〃
She shook her bead； and laid a two…shilling piece on the counter。
〃I won't trouble you to look at the tooth；〃 she said。 〃There is
the money。 Let me have the laudanum； if you please。〃
The doctor put the two…shilling piece back again in her hand。 〃I
don't sell laudanum to strangers；〃 he answered。 〃If you are in any
distress of body or mind； that is another matter。 I shall be glad
to help you。〃
She put the money back in her pocket。 〃YOU can't help me；〃 she
said； as quietly as ever。 〃Good morning。〃
With that； she opened the surgery door to go out again into the
street。 So far； I had not spoken a word on my side。 I had stood
with the candle in my hand （not knowing I was holding it）with my
eyes fixed on her； with my mind fixed on her like a man bewitched。
Her looks betrayed； even more plainly than her words； her
resolution； in one way or another； to destroy herself。 When she
opened the door； in my alarm at what might happen I found the use
of my tongue。
〃Stop！〃 I cried out。 〃Wait for me。 I want to speak to you before
you go away。〃 She lifted her eyes with a look of careless surprise
and a mocking smile on her lips。
〃What can YOU have to say to me？〃 She stopped； and laughed to
herself。 〃Why not？〃 she said。 〃I have got nothing to do； and
nowhere to go。〃 She turned back a step； and nodded to me。 〃You're
a strange manI think I'll humor youI'll wait outside。〃 The
door of the surgery closed on her。 She was gone。
I am ashamed to own what happened next。 The only excuse for me is
that I was really and truly a man bewitched。 I turned me round to
follow her out； without once thinking of my mother。 The doctor
stopped me。
〃Don't forget the medicine；〃 he said。 〃And if you will take my
advice； don't trouble yourself about that woman。 Rouse up the
constable。 It's his business to look after hernot yours。〃
I held out my hand for the medicine in silence： I was afraid I
should fail in respect if I trusted myself to answer him。 He must
have seen； as I saw； that she wanted the laudanum to poison
herself。 He had； to my mind； taken a very heartless view of the
matter。 I just thanked him when he gave me the medicineand went
out。
She was waiting for me as she had promised； walking slowly to and
froa tall； graceful； solitary figure in the bright moonbeams。
They shed over her fair complexion； her bright golden hair； her
large gray eyes； just the light that suited them best。 She looked
hardly mortal when she first turned to speak to me。
〃Well？〃 she said。 〃And what do you want？〃
In spite of my pride； or my shyness； or my better sensewhichever
it might beall my heart went out to her in a moment。 I caught
hold of her by the hands； and owned what was in my thoughts； as
freely as if I had known her for half a lifetime。
〃You mean to destroy yourself；〃 I said。 〃And I mean to prevent you
from doing it。 If I follow you about all night； I'll prevent you
from doing it。〃
She laughed。 〃You saw yourself that he wouldn't sell me the
laudanum。 Do you really care whether I live or die？〃 She squeezed
my hands gently as she put the question： her eyes searched mine
with a languid； lingering look in them that ran through me like
fire。 My voice died away on my lips； I couldn't answer her。
She understood； without my answering。 〃You have given me a fancy
for living； by speaking kindly to me；〃 she said。 〃Kindness has a
wonderful effect on women； and dogs； and other domestic animals。
It is only men who are superior to kindness。 Make your mind easy
I promise to take as much care of myself as if I was the happiest
woman living！ Don't let me keep you here； out of your bed。 Which
way are you going？〃
Miserable wretch that I was； I had forgotten my motherwith the
medicine in my hand！ 〃I am going home；〃 I said。 〃Where are you
staying？ At the inn？〃
She laughed her bitter laugh； and pointed to the stone quarry。
〃There is MY inn for to…night；〃 she said。 〃When I got tired of
walking about； I rested there。〃
We walked on together； on my way home。 I took the liberty of
asking her if she had any friends。
〃I thought I had one