Nevertheless the spy could return the candle to its place upon the
table without perceptible tremor of lip or limb, and after bestowing
one scrutinizing glance upon the nurse, who was fast asleep beneath
it, she went to the heap of damp clothing. These she lifted--one by
one--less gingerly than Phillis had done, and ransacked every likely
hiding-place of papers or valuables, going through the operation
with a rapid dexterity that astounded the old woman's weak mind, and
made her ashamed of her own clumsiness. Anticipating the final
stealthy look in her direction, the heavy lids fell once again, and
were not raised until the rusty bolt passed gratingly into the
socket, and she felt that the place was deserted by all save herself
and the dying stroller.
She was in no danger of dozing upon her post after this visitation.
For the few hours of darkness that yet remained, she sat in her
chair, her elbows upon her knees, smoking, and pondering upon what
she had witnessed, varying her occupations by feeding the fire and
such care of the patient as she considered advisable; likening, in
her rude, yet excitable imagination, the rumbling of the gale in the
chimney and across the roof-tree, to the roll of the chariot-wheels
which were to carry away the parting soul; the tap and rattle of
sleet and wind at the windows to the summons of demons, impatient at
Death's delay.
"The Lord send him an easy death, and let him go up, instead of
down!" she groaned aloud, once.
But the dubious shake of the head accompanying the benevolent
petition betokened her disbelief in the possibility of a favorable
reply. In her articles of faith it was only by a miracle that a
"no-account white man," picked up out of the highway, and whose
pockets were barren as were those she had examined, could get an
impetus in that direction.
The stormy dawn was revealing, with dreary distinctness, the shabby
disorder of the lumber-room, when Dr. Ritchie appeared in his
dressing-gown, rubbing his eyes, and yawning audibly.
"Gone--hey?" was his comment upon the negress' movements.
She had bound a strip of linen about the lank jaws; combed back the
grizzled hair from the forehead into sleek respectability; crossed
the hands at the wrists, as only dead hands are ever laid;
straightened the limbs, and was in the act of spreading a clean
sheet over her finished work.
"Nigh upon an hour since, sir," she responded, respectfully.
"He did not revive at all after I left him?"
"Not a breath or a motion, sir. He went off at the last jist as easy
as a lamb. Never tried to say nothin', nor opened his eyes after you
went down. 'Twould a' been a pity ef you had a' lost more sleep
a-settin' up with him. Ah, well, poor soul! 'taint for us to say
whar he is now. I would hope he is in glory, ef I could. I 'spose
the Almighty knows, and that's enough."