第11章

Grace had said it herself in so many words--she and Lady Janet had never seen each other.Her friends were in Canada; her relations in England were dead.Mercy knew the place in which she had lived--the place called Port Logan--as well as she had known it herself.Mercy had only to read the manuscript journal to be able to answer any questions relating to the visit to Rome and to Colonel Roseberry's death.She had no accomplished lady to personate: Grace had spoken herself--her father's letter spoke also in the plainest terms--of her neglected education.Everything, literally everything, was in the lost woman's favor.The people with whom she had been connected in the ambulance had gone, to return no more.Her own clothes were on Miss Roseberry at that moment--marked with her own name.Miss Roseberry's clothes, marked with her name, were drying, at Mercy's disposal, in the next room.The way of escape from the unendurable humiliation of her present life lay open before her at last.What a prospect it was! A new identity, which she might own anywhere! a new name, which was beyond reproach! a new past life, into which all the world might search, and be welcome! Her color rose, her eyes sparkled; she had never been so irresistibly beautiful as she looked at the moment when the new future disclosed itself, radiant with new hope.

She waited a minute, until she could look at her own daring project from another point of view.Where was the harm of it? what did her conscience say?

As to Grace, in the first place.What injury was she doing to a woman who was dead? The question answered itself.No injury to the woman.No injury to her relations.Her relations were dead also.

As to Lady Janet, in the second place.If she served her new mistress faithfully, if she filled her new sphere honorably, if she was diligent under instruction and grateful for kindness--if, in one word, she was all that she might be and would be in the heavenly peace and security of that new life--what injury was she doing to Lady Janet? Once more the question answered itself.She might, and would, give Lady Janet cause to bless the day when she first entered the house.

She snatched up Colonel Roseberry's letter, and put it into the case with the other papers.The opportunity was before her; the chances were all in her favor; her conscience said nothing against trying the daring scheme.She decided then and there--"I'll do it!"Something jarred on her finer sense, something offended her better nature, as she put the case into the pocket of her dress.She had decided, and yet she was not at ease; she was not quite sure of having fairly questioned her conscience yet.What if she laid the letter-case on the table again, and waited until her excitement had all cooled down, and then put the contemplated project soberly on its trial before her own sense of right and wrong?

She thought once--and hesitated.Before she could think twice, the distant tramp of marching footsteps and the distant clatter of horses' hoofs were wafted to her on the night air.The Germans were entering the village! In a few minutes more they would appear in the cottage; they would summon her to give an account of herself.There was no time for waiting until she was composed again.Which should it be--the new life, as Grace Roseberry? or the old life, as Mercy Merrick?

She looked for the last time at the bed.Grace's course was run; Grace's future was at her disposal.Her resolute nature, forced to a choice on the instant, held by the daring alternative.She persisted in the determination to take Grace's place.

The tramping footsteps of the Germans came nearer and nearer.The voices of the officers were audible, giving the words of command.

She seated herself at the table, waiting steadily for what was to come.

The ineradicable instinct of the sex directed her eyes to her dress, before the Germans appeared.Looking it over to see that it was in perfect order, her eyes fell upon the red cross on her left shoulder.In a moment it struck her that her nurse's costume might involve her in a needless risk.It associated her with a public position; it might lead to inquiries at a later time, and those inquiries might betray her.

She looked round.The gray cloak which she had lent to Grace attracted her attention.She took it up, and covered herself with it from head to foot.

The cloak was just arranged round her when she heard the outer door thrust open, and voices speaking in a strange tongue, and arms grounded in the room behind her.Should she wait to be discovered? or should she show herself of her own accord? It was less trying to such a nature as hers to show herself than to wait.She advanced to enter the kitchen.The canvas curtain, as she stretched out her hand to it, was suddenly drawn back from the other side, and three men confronted her in the open doorway.

[Next Chapter]

[Table of Contents]