''Yes, sir,'' I say, in a whisper.
And your name is Susan Smith?''
''Yes, sir.''
And you were maid to Mrs Rivers—Miss Lilly, as was—in her uncle''s house, of Briar, before her marriage?''
I nod.
And before that—where was your place? Not with a family named Dunraven, at the supposed address of Whelk Street, Mayfair?''
''No, sir. I never heard of them. They are all Mrs Rivers''s fancy.''
I speak, as a servant might. And I name, reluctantly, some other house and family—some family of Richard''s acquaintance, who might be relied on to provide the history we need, if the doctors think to seek them out. We do not think they will, however.
The doctor nods again. And Mrs Rivers,'' he says. ''You speak of her "fancy". When did such fancies begin?''
I swallow. ''Mrs Rivers has often seemed strange,'' I say quietly. ''The servants at Briar would speak of her as of a lady not quite right, in the brain. I believe her mother was mad, sir.''
''Now, now,'' says Richard smoothly, interrupting. ''The doctors don''t want to hear the gossip of servants. Go on with your observations, only.''⑤思⑤兔⑤網⑤文⑤檔⑤共⑤享⑤與⑤在⑤線⑤閱⑤讀⑤
''Yes, sir,'' I say. I gaze at the floor. The boards are scuffed, there are splinters rising from the wood, thick as needles.
''And Mrs Rivers''s marriage,'' says the doctor. ''How did that affect her?''
''It was that, sir,'' I say, ''which made the change in her. Before that time, she had seemed to love Mr Rivers; and we had all at Briar supposed his care, which was''—I catch Richard''s eye—''so good, sir!—we had all supposed it would lift her out of herself. Then, since her wedding-night, she has started up very queer ..."