human
Some severe mental shock? asked Dr. Rider; but, before she could reply, a cab drove rapidly up to the door, and sounds of a sudden arrival were audible in the house.
gpt
Oh, doctor, thank God, my son is come--now I can bear it, said the widow. Dr. Rider, who was of a compassionate nature, waited with pitying eyes till the minister should come up, and went to take another look at the patient, relieved to think he could speak to her brother, instead of racking her mother's heart. Mrs. Vincent grew calm in the sudden consolation of thinking Arthur at hand. She sat down by the bedside, with her eyes fixed on the door, yearning for her son, the only living creature from whom she could have entire sympathy. Was it necessary that they should speak so loudly as they came up-stairs?--could he be bringing a stranger with him to Susan's sickroom? Her heart began to beat louder with mingled expectation and displeasure. It was not like Arthur--and there was no sound of his voice in the noise that swept up the stair. She rose up instinctively as the footsteps approached--heavy steps, not like her son's. Then the door was thrown open. It was not Arthur who stood upon the dim threshold. It was a stranger in a rough travelling-coat, excited, resolute, full of his own errand. He made a stride into the room to the bedside, thrusting Mrs. Vincent aside, not wittingly, but because she was in his way. Mary stood at the other side with the doctor, holding up the one pale candle, which threw a flickering light upon the marble white figure on the bed, and the utter consternation and surprise in Dr. Rider's face. Mrs. Vincent, too much alarmed and astonished to offer any resistance, followed the man who had thus entered into her sanctuary of anguish. He knew what he was doing, though nobody else did. He went straight forward to the bed. But the sight of the unconscious figure there appalled the confident stranger.
human
It is she, sure enough, he said;
gpt
Leave the room! she cried with sudden passion--
human
He has made some impudent mistake, doctor. God help me!--will you let my child be insulted? Leave the room, sir--leave the room, I say! This is my daughter, Miss Vincent, lying here. Mary, ring the bell--he must be turned out of the room. Doctor, doctor! you are a man; you will never let my child be insulted because her brother is away.
gpt
What does it mean? cried Dr. Rider--
human
Know her, doctor! you are speaking of my child,
gpt
I know her fast enough, he said;
human
I've tracked her every step of the way; not to hurt the lady's feelings, I can't help what I'm doing, sir. It's murder;--I can't let her out of my sight.
gpt
What is murder?