human
Now, then, Sir Andrew, I take it, sat here in this chair --he seated himself forthwith at the desk, and looked about him.
gpt
And you, Mr. Duggan, were in the centre, opposite, with your sister here at your left. You were at your husband's right hand, a little way back, Lady Paula? Oh, I see--just halfway behind his chair, in case he might need you. Of course, of course. The right position for a lord's lady to be.... Now, let me see. You, Miss Dowd, stood at the left hand, right back against the wall, with Miss Debenham on _your_ left--oh, a little forward, eh? And Miss McCall on the other side of her. That's it. Now, I suppose, we are all in our places. Now, Mr. Narkom, if you'd be so good as to take up my present position and represent the ill-fated gentleman for one moment, I'll hop up and look about a bit. The scene's set, and we'll try and reconstruct the drama from anything any one would like to tell me. I believe one of the windows was open, was it not, Lady Paula?
human
I--don't know, Mr. Deland. I really never noticed....
gpt
But _I_ did. It was Catherine Dowd who spoke, a note of decision in her clear voice.
human
The centre window was open, Mr. Deland--from the bottom. Wide open.
gpt
Yes--of course it was, Maud Duggan broke in excitedly.
human
I remember noticing how the curtains blew while poor Father was speaking. Don't you, Ross?
gpt
I don't remember anything but what actually took place, he returned, in a low, unhappy voice.
human
I was so furious, Maud; you must remember the ignominy of--of Father calling in everyone like this to see my name struck out of the will! If he'd done it in private, even, it would not have been so bad, but in front of others, people who were not of our family --his glance travelled from Johanna's mouse-like countenance to the inscrutable Catherine's.
gpt
It--it seemed hardly cricket to me, and I was boiling over. I wish to God I hadn't been! It would have made it much easier to bear--now!
human
My poor Ross!
gpt
Well, now, said Cleek evenly,
human
Retaliated, Mr. Deland. Yes, I'm afraid I did. Poor old Dad! But I was pretty well strung up. And then, just as he had sat down again--he was standing up before, waving his fist in the air and calling me all sorts of names --his voice broke a tone or two and then recovered itself--
gpt
We heard distinctly the sound of the spinning wheel, humming just as the Peasant Girl said it would hum upon the approaching death of any male member of the family, supplemented Maud Duggan feverishly and with much excitement.
human
Hum-hum-hum! it went, Mr. Deland; then there was a swishing sound as of someone moving hurriedly--a sort of half-gasp--a--a--oh! how shall I describe it?----
gpt
A whizz and a whirr, and then the lights came up and there lay Sir Andrew in his chair--dead.