''It would show us, after all, the extent of the delusion; and may even serve to startle her out of it. What do you say? Yes, give me a page from your note-book. Nurse Spiller, let Mrs Rivers go. Mrs Rivers—'' He came back to me and gave me the little piece of paper that Dr Graves had torn from his book. Then he put his hand to his pocket and brought out a pencil, and made to give me that.
''Watch her, sir!'' said Nurse Spiller, when she saw the pencil''s point. ''She''s a sly one, this one!''
''Very good, I see her,'' he answered. ''But I do not think she means us any harm. Do you, Mrs Rivers?''↑↑
''No, sir,'' I said. I took the pencil in my hand. It trembled. He watched me.
''You may hold it better than that, I think,'' he said.
I moved it in my fingers, and it fell. I picked it up. ''Watch her! Watch her!'' said Nurse Spiller again, ready to make another grab at me.
''I am not used to holding pencils,'' I said.
Dr Christie nodded. ''I think you are. Come, write me a line upon this paper.''
''I can''t,'' I said.
''Of course you can. Sit neatly on the bed and rest the paper on your knee. That is how we sit to write, is it not? You know it is. Now, write me your name. You can do that, at least. You have told us so. Go on.''
I hesitated, then wrote it. The paper tore beneath the lead. Dr
Christie watched and, w