Chapter 4 Chapter Three Accidents

Tuesday afternoon.The side door to the garden was open.Miss Arundell stood on the threshold throwing Bob's ball into the garden path.The puppy immediately rushed to the ball. "One more time, Bob," said Emily Arundell. "You did a good job." The ball rolled quickly in the Children's Palace again, and Bob quickly chased after it. Miss Arundell stooped, picked up the ball that Bob had placed at her feet, and entered the house, with Bob following her.She closed the side door and went into the drawing room, followed by Bob, and finally she put the ball in the drawer.

She glanced at the alarm clock on the mantelpiece.It's half past six. "Bob, I think I need a break before dinner." She went upstairs and into the bedroom.Bob was with her.Miss Arundell was lying on a large divan covered with moccasins.With Bob at her feet, she sighed.She was glad that it was Tuesday and her guest was leaving tomorrow.It's not that she learned something this weekend that she didn't know before, it's that she can't ignore herself. She said to herself: "I think I'm getting older every day..." Then, after a moment of shock, she said, "I'm getting old..."

She lay with her eyes closed for half an hour, and then the old maid in the living room, Ellen, brought in hot water, and she stood up, ready to have dinner. Dr. Donaldson is going to have dinner with them all tonight.Emily Arundell hoped to find an opportunity to get to know him better at home.It still seemed inconceivable to her that the extraordinary Teresa should want to marry this rigid, pedantic young man.And it seemed a little comical that this rigid, pedantic young man should want to marry Theresa. As the night passed, she felt that she had failed to get to know Dr. Donaldson any better.He was very polite and serious, which bored her.She agreed with Miss Peabody's assessment from the bottom of her heart.At this time, a thought flashed through her mind: "In our young age, this is a good character."

Dr. Donaldson didn't stay very late.He left at ten o'clock.After he had left, Miss Emily Arundell announced that she too was going to bed.She went upstairs, and so did the young relatives.That's where their interest tonight ended.Miss Lawson remained downstairs to do the last remaining work: get Bob out, put the fire on, put the door damper in place, and roll up the front rug to keep it out of the fire. About five minutes later, she came a little out of breath to the mistress's room. "I think I've got it all," she said, putting down the wool, the work bag, and a library book. "I hope this one's okay. She doesn't have any of the books on your list." No, but she said sure you'd like it."

"The girl is a fool," said Emily Arundell, "and she has the worst taste in books I have ever had." "Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry—should I—" "Nonsense, it's not your fault," added Emily Arundell kindly. "I hope you enjoy yourself this afternoon." Miss Lawson had a look of delight on her face.She looked eager and rejuvenated. "Oh, it was a good game, thank you sir. You were kind enough to let me play all afternoon. I had a great afternoon. We played the Fushi Clipboard game, really— Fushi Clipboard wrote the best Interesting stuff. A few of them were revelations from the gods... Of course they are not exactly the same every time...Julia Tripp tried it a few times and it really worked. A few of the oracles were from people under the Nine Springs. .It's--grateful--that you'll allow the game to be played..."

Miss Arundell smiled, and said: "Better let the vicar hear you preach this myth." "Oh, it is. My dear Miss Arundell, I am sure--I am quite convinced--that there cannot be a single failure. I only wish that the dear Reverend Lonsdale would also come to discuss the matter. It seems to me that Come on, it's very narrow-minded to denounce a matter that you haven't investigated." Both Julia and Isabel Tripp were spiritualistic women. "It's too unreal to be real," said Miss Arundell. She didn't like the Tripp sisters very much; she found their dress ridiculous; their vegetarian and lettuce habits ridiculous; their mannerisms preposterous.There was no tradition of upbringing, no family origin in them--unbred women, in fact!But their sincerity amused her, and she was too kind to envy the joy their friendship evidently gave poor Minnie.

Poor Minnie!Emily Arundell looked at her valet with a mixture of affection and contempt.She had been served by many of these stupid middle-aged women—and they were all pretty much the same: kind, fussy, flattering, and hardly assertive. Poor Minnie looked especially excited tonight.Her eyes sparkled.She hurried around the room, touching here and there aimlessly, even she didn't know what she was doing, her eyes were extraordinarily bright. She looked tense and stammered: "I—I wish you were there... You know, I don't think you're a believer in that yet. But tonight, the letters EA were scratched out on the handshake clipboard—it's definitely someone's name Abbreviation. It was a man who died many years ago—a good-looking soldier—and Isabel saw him emerge clearly. This man must be Arundel. What a beautiful oracle, full of nostalgia And comfort, patient patience, and you will have it all."

"My father has no such feelings," said Miss Arundell. "Oh, the relatives under the nine springs are also changing—although they are not with us now. Love is everything, and mutual understanding is everything. Then, a key is drawn on the Fushi clipboard—I think this is our Key to the Carborough cupboard." "Is it the key from the Burrough cupboard?" Emily Arundell's voice was eager, and she could hear interest in it. "I think it's the key. I thought maybe there were some important papers in the cupboard - or something like that. There was a convincing instance; there was an oracle asking people to look at a table or a cupboard in the house Waiting for the furniture, and you found a will there."

"There's no will in the Burrough cupboard," said Miss Arundell.She added right away, "Go to bed, Minnie! You're so tired. I'm tired too. We're going to have the Tripp sisters come here for an evening in a few days." "Well, that's wonderful! Good night, dear. How are you tonight? I hope you're not tired from the crowds today. I'll be sure to tell Ellen to air the drawing-room well and straighten the curtains tomorrow." The whole—there's too much smoke in the house. I dare say I think you're kind enough to let them smoke in the drawing room!"

"I have to back down a little from the current of the times," said Miss Emily Arundell. "See you tomorrow, Minnie." After Minnie left the house, Emily Arundell wondered if the unreal events just now might be doing Minnie any good.Her eyes were popping out, and she looked restless and agitated. Emily Arundell went to bed thinking how strange the Burrough cupboard was.She grinned grimly, remembering the scene a long time ago.After my father died, lost keys were found, cupboards were opened, and blank brandy bottles were knocked over!Little things like this, it is certain that Minnie Lawson could not have known, nor did Isabel and Julia Tripp, and it is doubtful whether there is any truth in the illusory things just now...

She lay on a four-post bed and could not sleep.Today, she finds it harder to fall asleep than in the past.But she defied Dr. Granger's suggestion that she take sleeping pills.Sleeping pills are prepared for the weak-willed. Some people have pain in their fingers and teeth, and feel that sleepless nights are boring and unbearable, so they have to take sleeping pills. When she couldn't fall asleep, she often got up and paced up and down quietly in the textile.Sometimes pick up a book to read, run your fingers through the decorations, rearrange the flowers in the vase, or sit down and write a letter or two.At this midnight she felt the same life in the house in which she roamed.Roaming at night is also nice.It seemed that ghosts were also traveling with her, the ghosts of the three sisters, Arabella, Matilda, and Agnes, and the ghost of her brother Thomas.What a fine young man he was before that woman got him!Even the ghost of General Charles Leverton Arundel, once the tyrant of the family and charming in his manner, was there, but he used to yell at his daughters and bully them.Nonetheless, the daughters are proud of him, having seen the mutinies in India and having extensive knowledge of the world.His daughters also mentioned evasively, what would their family do if something happened to their father? Her thoughts turned again to her niece's fiancé.Miss Arundell thought to herself, "I don't think he's going to drink too much! To-night he calls himself a man, and he's drinking barley! Drinking barley! I opened the special red wine papa left me." wine." Charles drank the wine.oh!If only Charles could be trusted.If only people didn't know what he did.... Her train of thought was interrupted... She thought again of what happened over the weekend... Everything seems to disturb her... She wanted to pour out everything that bothered her. But it didn't work. She leaned on her elbows, raised her body slightly, and looked at the time by the light of the long-lit candle in the small candle tray. It was one o'clock in the morning, and she had never wanted to sleep like she did now. She sat up and put on her slippers and her warm pajamas.She wanted to go downstairs and check this week's account due tomorrow. Like a ghost, she slipped out of the house and walked along the corridor where a small electric light was on all night. She went to the edge of the stairs, put out a hand to feel the banister, and then, somehow, tripped, tried to regain her balance, failed, and rolled headfirst down the stairs. The sound of her rolling down the stairs and her screaming woke up the sleeping people in the house, doors were opened and lights were turned on. Miss Lawson ran from her room next to the stairs. Weeping softly, she ran down the stairs thumping.Others followed—Charles in fancy pajamas, still yawning.Teresa was wrapped in black silk pajamas.Bella wore a navy blue dressing gown and had a comb inserted into her hair to create "curls and waves". Emily Arundell lay there, paralyzed in a heap, dazed with fright.Her shoulder hurt, her ankle—her whole body hurt like hell.She was aware of the people standing around watching her, silly Minnie Lawson crying and gesticulating meaninglessly; Teresa's dark eyes shining with horror; Bella standing there with her mouth open , seems to have been expected; Charles' voice came from nowhere-it sounds like the voice seems far away... "It must have been the bloody dog's ball! He must have dropped it here, and the old man stepped on it and slipped. Do you see it? Here it is!" Then, realizing that someone in authority was coming, she pushed the others aside and knelt beside her.He stroked her lightly with quick, precise hands. She felt relaxed all over.Everything is fine now. Dr. Tanios comforted everyone by saying in a firm tone: "No big problem. No broken bones...just a bad shock and a bump on the skin—of course, she got a bit of a scare. But luckily, the fall wasn't too bad." Then, he told the others to step back, gently lifted her up, and helped her to the bedroom.There he took her wrist for a moment, took her pulse, and then, nodding his head, told Minnie (she was still crying, which was annoying indeed!) to go out and get some brandy and boil some water for the thermos. Miss Arundell was dazed, trembling, and in pain, and she was especially grateful to Jacob Tanios.She felt much more at ease with her capable hands.He gives you a sense of comfort - a sense of trust - which is what a doctor should give a patient. There was something here - something she couldn't grasp now - something vaguely unsettling her - but she didn't want to think about it now.She was going to drink the medicine that was given to her, and fall asleep quickly, as they told her. But, something must be missing - maybe it's someone. Oh well, she didn't want to think about it anymore... She felt pain in her shoulder - she drank the medicine that was given to her. She heard Dr. Tanios say—in a reassuring tone—"She's all right now." She closed her eyes. She awoke to a sound she knew well—a soft, muffled barking of a dog. In an instant, she was fully awake. Bob - nasty Bob!It was barking outside the door—a bark that seemed to say, "Master, I've been out all night and I'm feeling shy." It was a subdued, but hopeful cry. stop. Miss Arundell listened attentively.Ah, yes, that's right.She heard Minnie go downstairs to open the door and let the puppy in.She heard the door open, a few unintelligible whispers--Minnie's useless scolding--"Oh, you nasty puppy--your most annoying little Bob..." She heard the kitchen door opened.Bob's bed is under the table in the kitchen. At this moment, Emily realized that at the moment of her accident, she was vaguely aware of what it was that was missing.It's Bob the puppy!In that chaotic moment—she fell, people came running—Bob, in the kitchen, would have been yelling in unison.So, that's what's been making her feel uneasy in the back of her mind.But now the explanation is clear - Bob was locked out last night, he deliberately left the house without shame and played outside all night.He had been out at night sometimes in the past, and behaved badly—but it was always satisfying to be apologetic afterward. So, things are clear.But is it really clear?What else was troubling her, troubling her in the back of her mind?It was her accident—something connected with her accident. Ah, someone said—Charles said—that Bob's ball was on the top of the stairs, and she stepped on it and slipped... After the accident, the ball was still there - Charles was holding this ball in his hand... Emily Arundell had a headache.Her shoulders twitched, too.The swollen part of her body caused her pain... Although she was in physical pain, she was clear-headed and sane.Shock no longer confused her.Her memory was completely restored. She ran through her mind everything that had happened since six o'clock last night...remembering every step...until she got to the top of the stairs and fell down... A chilling terror ran through her body... Surely--she must have made a mistake... People tend to think wildly after an event.She tried—seriously—to think of the slippery ball Bob played with at her feet. But she couldn't think of such a thing. or else... "It's all neurotic," said Emily Arundell, "a wild imagination." But her sensitive, quick-witted, Victorian mind couldn't admit for a moment what others said.The Victorians were not foolish optimists.They confidently believe the worst. Emily Arundell believes in the worst.