human
Well, ma'am, we had of course to obey her orders, but we all felt very uncomfortable. And as a matter of fact in about half an hour Ponting did make an excuse to go into the room --he looked at the woman by his side.
gpt
You just tell Mrs. Otway what happened,
human
I just opened the door very quietly, and Mrs. Guthrie did not turn round. Without being at all deaf, my mistress had got a little hard of hearing, lately. I went a step forward, and then I saw that she was reading the Bible. I was very much surprised, madam, for it was the first time I had ever seen her do such a thing--though of course there was always a Bible and a Prayer Book close to her hand. She was wheeled into church each Sunday--when it was fine, that is. The Major saw to that.... I couldn't help feeling sorry she hadn't rung and asked me to move the Book for her, for it is a big Bible, with very clear print. She was following the words with her finger, and that was a thing I had never seen her do before with any book. As she did not turn round, I said to myself that it was better not to disturb her. So I just backed very quietly out of the door again. I shall always be glad, she said, in a lower tone,
gpt
And then, interposed Howse,
human
Yes, said Ponting, her voice sinking to a whisper,
gpt
We've left the Bible just as it was, said Howse slowly.
human
It's just covered over, so that the Major, if ever he _should_ come home again, though I fear that's very unlikely --he dolefully shook his head--
gpt
It was open at the twenty-second Psalm, added Ponting,
human
The dog?
gpt
Yes, madam. 'Deliver my soul from the sword: my darling from the power of the dog.'
human
Her darling, that's the Major, and the dog is the enemy, ma'am.
gpt
I telegraphed the very first thing to Mr. Allen--that's Major Guthrie's lawyer, ma'am. The Major told me I was to do that, if anything awkward happened. Then it just occurred to me that I would telephone to the Deanery. The Dean was out here yesterday afternoon, ma'am, and Mrs. Guthrie liked him very much. Long ago, when she lived in London, she used to know the parents of the young gentleman to whom Miss Haworth is engaged to be married. They had quite a long pleasant talk about it all. I had meant, ma'am, if you'll excuse my telling you, to telephone to you next, and then I heard as how you were coming here. The Major did tell me the morning he went away that if Mrs. Guthrie seemed really ailing, I was to ask you to be kind enough to come and see her. Of course I knew where he was going, and that he'd be away for a long time, though he didn't say anything to me about it. But he knew that I knew, right enough!
human
Had Mrs. Guthrie no near relation at all--no sister, no nieces?
gpt
No. Nothing of the kind, said Howse confidently.
human
And on Major Guthrie's side there was only distant cousins. It's a peculiar kind of situation altogether, ma'am, if I may say so. Quite a long time may pass before we know whether the Major is alive or dead. 'Wounded and missing'? We all knows as how there is only one thing worse that could be than that--don't we, ma'am?
gpt
I don't quite know what you mean, Howse.
human
Why, the finding and identifying of the Major's body, ma'am.