He opened the door of the invalid's room softly, and went in.
Mrs. Woolper was seated beside the bed. She looked up at him with
unwinking eyes.
"I thought you was abed, sir," she said.
"No; I am too anxious to sleep."
"I think every one is anxious, sir," Mrs. Woolper answered, gravely.
"How is your patient?"
The pretty white curtains of the little brass Arabian bedstead were
drawn.
"She is asleep, sir. She sleeps a great deal. The doctor said that was
only natural."
"She has taken her medicine, I suppose?" said Mr. Sheldon.
He glanced round the room as he asked this question, but could see no
trace of medicine-bottle or glass.
"Yes, sir; she has taken it twice, the poor dear."
"Let me look at the medicine."
"The strange doctor said as I was to let no one touch it, sir."
"Very likely; but that direction doesn't apply to me."
"He said no one, sir."
"You are an old fool!" muttered Mr. Sheldon, savagely.
"Ah no, sir," the housekeeper answered, with a profound sigh; "I am wiser
than I was when poor Mr. Halliday died."
This answer, and the sigh, and the look of solemn sadness which
accompanied it, told him that this woman knew all. She had suspected him
long ago; but against her unsupported suspicion the mere force of his
character had prevailed. She was wiser now; for on this occasion
suspicion was confirmed by the voice of science.
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