But not for the wild confusion--the inconceivable litter and all
the other signs she saw about her of a boy's mad packing and
reckless departure. Here her imagination, so lively at times, had
failed her; and, as her eye became accustomed to the semi-
obscurity, and she noted the heaps of mouldering clothing lying
amid overturned chairs and trampled draperies, she felt her heart
grow cold with a nameless dread she could only hope to counteract
by quick and impulsive action.
But what action? Was it for her to touch, to rearrange, to render
clean and orderly this place of unknown memories? She shrank with
inconceivable distaste from the very idea of such meddling; and,
though she saw and noted all, she did not put out so much as a
finger towards any object there till--There was an inner door, and
this some impulse drove her to open. A small closet stood
revealed, empty but for one article. When she saw this article she
gave a great gasp; then she uttered a low PSHAW! and with a shrug
of the shoulders drew back and flung to the door. But she opened
it again. She had to. One cannot live in hideous doubt, without an
effort to allay it. She must look at that small, black article
again; look at it with candle in hand; see for herself that her
fears were without foundation; that a shadow had made the outline
on the wall which--
She found herself laughing. There was nothing else to do. SHE with
thoughts like these; SHE, Reuther's mother! Verily, the early
hours of morning were unsuited for any such work as this.
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