第16部分(第5/7 页)

　without　shoes；　crept　from　the　apartment；　and　set　off　in　quest　of　Miss　Temple’s　room。　It　was　quite　at　the　other　end　of　the　house；　but　I　knew　my　way；　and　the　light　of　the　unclouded　summer　moon；　entering　here　and　there　at　passage　windows；　enabled　me　to　find　it　without　difficulty。　An　odour　of　camphor　and　burnt　vinegar　warned　me　when　I　came　near　the　fever　room：　and　I　passed　its　door　quickly；　fearful　lest　the　nurse　who　sat　up　all　night　should　hear　me。　I　dreaded　being　discovered　and　sent　back；　for　I　must　see　Helen；—I　must　embrace　her　before　she　died；—I　must　give　her　one　last　kiss；　exchange　with　her　one　last　word。

Having　descended　a　staircase；　traversed　a　portion　of　the　house　below；　and　succeeded　in　opening　and　shutting；　without　noise；　two　doors；　I　reached　another　flight　of　steps；　these　I　mounted；　and　then　just　opposite　to　me　was　Miss　Temple’s　room。　A　light　shone　through　the　keyhole　and　from　under　the　door；　a　profound　stillness　pervaded　the　vicinity。　ing　near；　I　found　the　door　slightly　ajar；　probably　to　admit　some　fresh　air　into　the　close　abode　of　sickness。　Indisposed　to　hesitate；　and　full　of　impatient　impulses—soul　and　senses　quivering　with　keen　throes—I　put　it　back　and　looked　in。　My　eye　sought　Helen；　and　feared　to　find　death。

Close　by　Miss　Temple’s　bed；　and　half　covered　with　its　white　curtains；　there　stood　a　little　crib。　I　saw　the　outline　of　a　form　under　the　clothes；　but　the　face　was　hid　by　the　hangings：　the　nurse　I　had　spoken　to　in　the　garden　sat　in　an　easy…chair　asleep；　an　unsnuffed　candle　burnt　dimly　on　the　table。　Miss　Temple　was　not　to　be　seen：　I　knew　afterwards　that　she　had　been　called　to　a　delirious　patient　in　the　fever…room。　I　advanced；　then　paused　by　the　crib　side：　my　hand　was　on　the　curtain；　but　I　preferred　speaking　before　I　withdrew　it。　I　still　recoil