 Chapter 9 of Nathalie Page, Nathalie Page by Catherine Haviland Taylor Chapter 9 A Strange Happening A week went by and not much happened, and while I was not actively unhappy, I was never once happy. Amy had lots to do, and I didn't see her often, and of course Evelyn was hardly in at all, and when she rarely was, she was too cross to talk to. I wondered about her, as I had about Uncle Archie whether the return paid for what they both gave up, for Evelyn was tired and strained in losing all her sweetness, and Uncle Archie had lost all his talk. I came to feel that it wasn't worthwhile in either case. I thought a great deal those days thought is almost forced upon you, if you aren't a social success or can't play baseball. You see in such case there is nothing to divert you and keep you from reflection, so I thought. I also wrote home often and sent Willie Jepsen postcards, because he sent me one of the jail on which he had written, my room is marked with a cross, there was a cross over the only window that is barred, and he also sent me a picture of Miss Hooker taken, I imagine, in 1892, on which he had written, she has consented to be mine, sweet love has bloomed within my heart at last. But I knew he got that out of a book because it didn't sound like Willie. Those with a letter from Uncle Frank which contained much information about the larvae of the bee cheered me greatly. The letter sounded so like, Uncle Frank, that all I had to do was to shut my eyes and then I could hear him ho-hum, and I did that quite a good deal as I reread his letter. That week was, I found afterward, a normal week for my aunt and cousins and uncle, but it seemed frightfully hurried to me. Everyone had decided that I had been choked and chlor-formed by a sneak thief, and after Uncle muttered about speaking to the building's owner about the fire escapes and aunts, warning Ito and Jane about the pantry window and one of mine which opens on an iron balcony as does one of Amy's. Everyone forgot the episode. It seemed Evelyn once lost a fur coat that way, and that upstairs thieving was not uncommon. But I knew they were wrong, however, nothing strengthened my belief until the event which came in the first part of the following week, but that comes later. As I said the week dragged by, I lived through it very slowly. It is strange how time is affected by the way you feel, isn't it? And at last it was Friday. My aunt was going out to a luncheon, and because I had been alone all morning and wanted company, I followed her to the hall, and there we found Mr. Campwood's letter. My dear, said Aunt Penelope, what a stunning hand, and what a charming shade for letter paper, for you, do let's see whom it's from. I opened it feeling excited. It was from Mr. Campwood, and he asked if I would come down and have tea with him at four o'clock on Saturday, and he said that if I liked, we would, afterward, take a drive. My aunt said I most certainly could, and then she kissed me with unusual interest and left, and I took the letter and read it three more times, especially the end, where he had written, and it is with genuine pleasure and great pride, my dear Miss Natalie, that I signed myself your friend, Samuel Campwood. I did like that. While I went in my room and thought about all the things I would wear, and I hoped so much that my aunt would let me wear my pink dress, but she didn't, however, I had such a good time that my disappointment was soon forgotten. I decided I would wear my jewelry, which consists of a June-Mell bracelet and a ring with a silver skull on it, which Willie Jepsen gave me. I thought my tam would be best for motoring because it sticks on, and Mr. Campwood likes it, and I meant to accept that part of the invitation very hard because I love it, and there never seems to be enough room in Aunt's motor. Everyone is always sorry, but someone else always has to go. Amy has so many friends that it is difficult to pay them all sufficient attention. This week she took them motoring each morning, different sets, and deeply regret it. She couldn't take me, but I understood how it was, and said so. I tried to make her just as comfortable as I could about it. They are all being very kind to me. That night Evelyn had dinner at home, Uncle Archie was there too, and it might have been nice if they'd acted so, but outside a great deal, and said Evelyn needed a new fur coat and that there was a beauty on Fifth Avenue for only $2,200, and she made a long lecture about getting good things when you bought because they lasted, and it really was an economy. Then Amy began to whine and say that if Evelyn had a new coat, she didn't see why she, Amy, couldn't have one, and that she felt like a pauper when she went to school. I felt sorry for Uncle Archie. He didn't seem to mind, but I think it must have bothered him after he said, ah, a few times he turned to me and really spoke to me for the first time. What do you want? He asked. Must want something, but I said I didn't, and I added that I was grateful for all the lovely things Aunt had bought me. I told him that they were beautiful. He looked at me hard, said ha, and went on eating. Then I asked Aunt if I could wear the pink dress to Mr. Kempwood's party, Mr. Kempwood's, that good Evelyn, and she did not seem pleased when her mother told her about it. I think that's very kind of him, she said, after her mother finished. Uncle Archie went out after dinner, and Evelyn went to a dance with some friends at about nine, and Aunt Penelope, sighing and saying, thank heaven, she actually had an evening free, wrote a lot of notes and telephone friends, making engagements for all the evenings of the next week. Amy and I went to bed at 9 30 because we are supposed to at nine. Amy sleeps with me now because she thinks I may be frightened, at least that is what she says, but I privately think she is scared to be alone. However, that is not vital. After we got in bed, Amy told me that lots of men had proposed Evelyn, but that she had scorned them all. However, she said that there was a man in the next house whom Evelyn really liked. She's dippy about him. Amy said, you can see it. They both sympathize, silly when they meet and they have a basket strung between the houses on a wire, you know, they're ever so close and they pass notes that way. Honestly, I said it didn't sound like Evelyn. She seems too hard for anything romantic. Honestly, Amy assured me she doesn't think anyone will notice the wire and the basket is hidden under her window box. I see, I said, and I did. There are flower boxes on the outsides of a good many of the windows. It would be easy enough to manage to make one, a garage for her basket mail carrier if she wanted to. She'd die if anyone knew it. Amy confided it would fuss her. I just can't imagine Evelyn mooning around in the dark waiting for that basket to slide across. I'm dying to get one of those notes. Wouldn't it be funny to fill that basket full of cold flower paste? I said, just think how she'd jump if she slid her hand in it up to the wrist. Wouldn't she agree to Amy and giggle? But of course we mustn't. She added in a sober tone. Of course not. I said, adding she couldn't tell on us either. No, said Amy, but we mustn't let that influence us. Where could we get the paste? I suggested that we ask the cook to let us make candy Saturday night. Then we giggled a good deal. And after that, Amy said darn awfully hard and got out of bed growling and fussing terribly before she'd forgotten to say her prayers. The next morning when I got up, I found my bracelet was gone and I was upset by it and disappointed because I had wanted to wear it down to Mr. Campwoods. I decided to ask Madame Jumel to return it again, although the recollection of the way it came back before made me so frightened that my palms grew damp, even though my hands were cold. But I did want it. Even at that time I'd made up my mind I would win for Madame Jumel had given it to us. It was ours and she had no right to make everyone miserable. So at about three thirty, I went over to the Jumel mansion. I asked which room Madame Jumel slept in this time and they told me I went up to stand at the door. Some visitors went past me talking of the room where Lafayette has slept and of Washington's bedroom, but neither Washington nor Lafayette interested me that day. You know, I whispered it isn't fair. You gave it to her and since you did and then I stopped for one of the curators came by and heard me absorbing the habit from one of the old mistresses. He asked I didn't know what he meant. Then he explained it seemed Madame Jumel's mind had wavered as she grew older and she did strange things among them talking to herself of the great people she had entertained and the power she had been absolutely mad. So the gentleman whom I had come to know well in those few visits why she employed a lot of French refugees who were out of work and would take any starving, I suppose, brought them up here and drill them as her army. Boys who were fishing on the other side of the river would look up to see the old woman heading a little crowd of ragged men who carried sticks for guns. She always rode a horse sitting erect and now and again they said she would turn proudly to survey her troops. She was a queer one, they say. He paused and looked in the room that she haunts this rumor. I don't believe in such things, but her relatives who lived here afterwards, three families they were, swore that she came back to rap so hard that the walls shook. They all quarreled and none spoke to each other. But having no money while they waited for the will to be settled, they lived here. The Nelson Chase family, the Will Chase family, and the Parries. The Chases were her nephews, Mrs. Parry, her niece, Mademoiselle Nitska, the governor of small Matilda Parry, did not believe in ghosts, but one night even she was convinced. You'll find all that story in a book called The Jumel Mansion, which Mr. William Henry Shelton, whom you have seen here, wrote. I hunted Mr. Shelton and he showed me this. I won't quote it entire, but only in part. It is in his book as Mademoiselle Nitska. Told it. I came to live at the mansion three years after Madame Jumel died, or about, say, 1868. My room was on the third floor. After a little time I was moved down to the Lafayette room to be nearer Mrs. Parry, who was in Nightly Terror of the Ghost of Madame Jumel, which she claimed came with terrible wrappings between twelve and one o'clock or about midnight. Mrs. Parry would come to my room in the night in great excitement to escape the ghost. One night she insisted on my coming to their bedroom and awaiting the ghost. I'd always told them there was no such thing as a ghost. On that particular night the trouble began as early as seven o'clock in the evening. They had just come up from supper when Mrs. Parry rushed into the hall, trembling with fright and calling, Mademoiselle. At about that same time, probably hearing Christ, Mr. Parry came up the stairs from the kitchen where he had been toasting cheese. He disliked to sleep in the room in question, claiming that Madame Jumel had come to the side of his bed in white. And she described it quite a while. Mademoiselle Nitschke said it was a very quiet September night and hardly a leaf stirred. She said they all sat in absolute silence and things seemed to grow even more still as midnight approached. And when it came, a loud rap, such as a wooden mallet, might make, came directly under Mr. Parry's chair, from which she said he leaped as if he had been shot. And I, for one, don't blame him. Well, then Mademoiselle, who must have been very brave, asked if Madame Jumel desired prayers said for her. And Madame replied with three knocks, which is knock language for yes. Mr. Shelton told me more and I enjoyed it so much, but I could not understand it. And it made me feel creepy. I think it is pleasant or not to believe in ghosts. After this, since it was getting late, I went downstairs and stood before the portrait. And here I again asked for my brace that it seemed to me the portrait smiled, unpleasantly. But I suppose that was only my imagination. But when you are nervous, you cannot tell what you see or what you don't. And the real becomes hazy and the unreal real. I was glad to go to Mr. Campwoods, but I will tell about that later. That night, the bracelet came back. Amy slept with me and we were ready to sleep, having worked very hard to make flour paste of the right consistency. It had to be sloppy and so that it wouldn't harden when cold. We also had to arrange an inner holder for it since the basket was not built to hold juice. We didn't get started undressing until 10. And Jane, who is supposed to remind us of bedtime, became very disagreeable. But we ignored her and didn't let her irritate us. We fixed a heavy paper inside to the basket and then poured the stuff in and then Amy pulled it halfway out on the line so that Evelyn would think he started something. We put ice in it and it began to feel far from pleasant. We both tried it sort of like cold frogs, mash, said Amy, which was an admirable description. And after this, we went to bed. We decided we needn't stay awake, for we felt sure that Evelyn would yell. And she did. But that comes later. I didn't go to sleep early. I've not since the bracelet was first returned. And the consciousness that it might come back again in the same way made me lie awake and feel gaspy. So when I heard a little noise, I was not surprised. Our door was open a little way and there was a noise at this, then a scratching noise by my bedside. The bedhead is by the door in the tiniest light, something glittered and made a bright point slowly moving across the floor. I struggled up and somehow found my searchlight, swallowing heart and feeling sick. I crested the jumebrace that lay one yard inside the door on the floor. It was the glitter on the goal that had let me see it as it moved. It had come back again. End of chapter nine. Chapter 10 of Natalie Page. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Natalie Page by Catherine Havelin Taylor. Chapter 10. What Mr. Kempwood told me. Mr. Kempwood's rooms, as he called them, were lovely. And I had a fine time going around and looking at things. His furniture is more than pretty. It has a reason. Everything is either very comfortable or very interesting. And it all makes you want to linger. For instance, the opening cabinet, which honestly held interesting things, not like Aunt Penelope's, which has only six fancy fans and a lot of ancient scent bottles and an autographed book of poems and such truck. His has really fascinating things and it is therefore worth the dusting trouble. There were all sorts of books in it, written in different ways. I mean scrolls, simply yards of those and an East Indian one written on reeds, all strung together and even one on a brick. We agreed that it would be frightful to have to scratch out a bestseller with a chisel. He said, think how your wrist would feel by the time your hero gets his best girl. And I agreed that brick was Assyrian. Then he had little tiny gods that the Egyptians buried with people. And he even had the toilet things of an ancient queen. And it had tweezers in it, which led me to believe that even then they pulled out the extra eyebrows and made them skinny and beautiful as women do today. Evelyn has a woman come to do it each week if she can't get down to Elizabeth Bardens and she squalls. There are no other words for this while it is being done. But her eyebrows are arched and beautifully shaped. I told Mr. Kemp would help. She yelled as I suggested the eyebrow theory. He left a good deal and said maybe I was right. Then he said I really ought to tell him things like that. And although I didn't see why I shouldn't, I said I would not. Then he asked me to sit down and I didn't even I wanted to stay sitting for his chairs. A wonderfully suitable after which he rang and we had tea and since there were no plain bread and butter sandwiches I felt no obligation to eat any. I thank Mr. Kemp would for omitting them and I ate a good deal and enjoyed myself more than I have since reaching New York. I told him a lot about Uncle Frank and Bradley dear and even about Willie Jepsen and he asked me whether I thought I would marry Willie and I said not if anyone else asked me. And then I had some more tea. He asked me how old I was at that point. And when I said 16 he was surprised. I don't seem it. I know that. That is one reason he never has room in the motor for me. I know I humiliate her by my lack of polish. Baseball doesn't develop much beside muscle and quickness and a certain sort of flash judgment I have realized lately. But I shall acquire those other things in the three years of which over a week has passed. Where's the bracelet today? Natalie Mr. Kemp would ask after looking at my arms. I wore a great silk which has short sleeves. It has broad white cuffs and a big flaring white collar and is pretty. I replied that I thought I wouldn't wear it for I knew no one would believe my story. I suppose you're interested in the mansion he questioned further. I said I was decidedly. No it's history. He asked in a way I answer but not as well as I shall history is never interested me. I didn't think things that happened to dead people vital but lately. Well he said they may not be vital nothing but food and sleep really is you know but the things that have happened are interesting because they make you think. This I'm making you realize what helped to form the great country in which you live. Perhaps you haven't seen history. Perhaps you just said in 1776 Washington occupied the Jumail mansion for some time. Or on Wednesday July 3 1833 Reverend Dr. Bogart married the celebrated Colonel Burr and Madame Jumail. Waiter of the late Steven Jumail instead of seeing Washington step out of that door and stand on that porch. Probably he watched the burning of New York from there. A great many people think Nathan Hale started it. New York was then in the hands of the British and many thought burning it was the thing to do. There are good many things about Nathan Hale's story that are still misty. You repeat dates about a wedding instead of seeing a queer old woman rouged and smirking come down the twisting stairs of a Jumail mansion to meet a groom who was a tired old man poor and aware that a gay youth doesn't leave much precipitate for a comfortable old age. He gained six thousand dollars by that marriage and she some more experience with the law for she divorced him. Mr. Kemp would stop and ask if he might smoke. I said yes. And after he lit a long cigarette which he put in an interesting holder. He went on with can't you see the old lady and the old man being married. The ceremony took place in a small parlor at the left as one enters. Probably some servants looked on perhaps the room was lit by candles dozens of them flickering high then low and casting shadows. My what a house what memory she put in it. Mr. Kemp would pause knocked over his ass and then said do you know houses have souls. They have the thoughts that their owners attached to their walls haven't you seen lovely houses and her people say horrible place I hate going there. They are also sort of testing. You see before one knows that the house absorbs the spirit of the people who live in it and one thinks of the home as horrible. Now madam Jamel you won't quite understand this Natalie and it's difficult to explain didn't have much chance. And she wasn't always good in fact far from it. And she came to this house which had belonged to the Roger Morris family who had kept it fine and splendid and she turned it to a mad house before she died and left it in possession of three quarreling sets of errors who dragged their claims through the courts for years and years and whose descendants are still bickering for those who had lost felt that they had been cheated and so they kept on bickering. Don't you think that a man who evades fighting leaves a stain I asked Roger Morris said Mr. Kempwood I nodded yes but if the reasons for his not fighting were sufficient his evading it was right. You see his wife's family the Phillips and the Robinson's I believe the Robinson's had a country play still in existence at Dobbs Ferry but as stage some interesting history too they all owned property he went on and if Captain Morris had sided with the King where his sympathies probably lay his property and that of all his connection might have been burned by the Liberty boys. He had a family and a wife to care for the Beverly Robinson's and their clan were not used to poverty he could not drag them to it we'll say he left for that reason. Why did they burn houses I asked because they thought their owners sympathized with England. They must have had a good time Mr. Kempwood stopped and shook his head imagine he said a mob of a hundred men all carrying sticks and throwing stones and some of them swinging tin lanterns from which gleamed the feeble light of candles probably the cat called sang and whistled as they tramped along the street and little girls and long quilted skirts ran after them and little boys and home spun breeches joined the moving throng adding their shrill voices whistles sticks and stones then perhaps they would pause before a house and call master Benson will greet you immediate and others come forth your dog while the wag of the crowd would sing a song of King George then perhaps a window would slide up and a man who wore a nightcap would stick a head out and ask for mercy but I doubt whether he got it for crowds or cruel perhaps his wife and little girls would come out of the house caring what little they could and crying and then the man southern and angered will be put through a mock trial for the benefit of the jeering crown and back of him a house would blaze and the things he loved would vanish and smoke a fire looks pretty against a black night sky the blazing red which vanishes in silent smoke the light see I said I did but they had to burn those houses didn't they I asked no he answered George Washington didn't want them to they did more harm than good for often they burn the houses of the innocent and a mob spirit uncontrolled as no business in war anything is done better under direction of a man who sees things coolly and takes them quietly I said I suppose this was so what happened to the Jumao mansion after the Roger Morris family left it I asked did they come back no he answered the Phillips manor was confiscated and sold with the Morris property for these two families had gone back to England there was some mix up about the income from the properties war makes that you know and the heirs I suppose were glad to dispose of the place for John Jacob Aster seeing what is today called a goodbye purchased the right of the heirs with legal power to transfer for twenty thousand pounds later the state of New York bought it from him for half a million dollars from the close of the revolution until Stephen Jumao bought the property a period of nearly thirty years the old house was internal humble farm house or an end stages began to go from Albany to New York in 1787 and of course they stopped at the end changed horses you know can't you see them dashing up in style the whips cracking the horses waiting then the stop and the ladies all flounced and who have skirt getting out to walk about and shake the stiffness from their bones perhaps a gentleman would say well madam do me the proud honor to sup with me and perhaps they had fried chicken and mashed potato and pie all on the table at once and I'm sure the end keepers wife frankly listen to their talk for talk in those days took the place of newspapers which even our country people get today then after they'd sucked I think they'd go out and get in the ladies most into settling their skirts and the gentlemen putting cushions back of them and murmuring something about the glories of all blue skies paling beside the color of their orbs they did it that way in those days Natalie Mr. Kempwood ended I said I knew it but that I'd rather have a man say right out if you liked me that I preferred sensible frankness Mr. Kempwood said he knew it and that he thought a man would try to be awfully square with me then I said what next and he smiled and said and with the crack of the whip they dashed off to New York a large town which lay some 10 miles distant from the hamlet of Harlem Heights did they go up to see the view I wonder Mr. Kempwood thought they did you can see miles from the little balcony at the top of the jumeil mansion and then of course further for nothing was built up yes he said probably the bow bowed very low and said will madam or mistress honor me by going up the stairs to see the view from the top balcony which is rumored to be the most beauties and is of great renown and then we stood up and I put on my things for we were going driving we were through with history for that day but Mr. Kempwood had made me see it I could actually hear the creak of the old in sign as a swung in the wind I could see the tired horses and the little daughters of the innkeeper peeping around the big white posts I'm sure that they were bashful country children quite like me with no way to say what they felt probably they were afraid of the grand ladies who traveled so elegant and who meant so dinkily as they walked and perhaps as they sat around the fireplace at night one would say mother I was in the room turning the loon and I heard the grand lady with the purple ostrich plumes talk she was viewing the view she said large you bold man I cannot believe one word you say he said no rose and all of heaven's garden wears the bloom of your sweet cheek what do you think of that mother and then perhaps she would look in the fire and dream for even little country girls do that if they can't play baseball we had a lovely lovely drive Mr. Kempwood was so kind to me and he said he was going to take me every week I could hardly believe it I think you are very good to me I whispered before I felt it so deeply that it was hard to say I'm not he said I'm being very good to myself I can't tell you how much I enjoy this Natalie I slipped my hand in his and squeezed it little person he said you are there and he smiled down at me but he let go of my hand after two pats then before I knew it it was really late and time to get ready for dinner I hate leaving you I said as we stood in our small outer hall he thanked me and said he felt that way about me but he said we'll have another ride soon and I'll see you within a few days but I couldn't believe this it seemed too good however I saw him the next evening or as they say in the north afternoon it was at the Jumail mansion and I was the direct cause of it all which makes me feel dreadfully but how could I tell that that would happen and that I would make him get hurt it was terrible but I'm so thankful that it was no worse I think of that all the time for if Mr. Kempley had been killed there's a spot in my heart that would never have healed but he wasn't End of chapter 10 chapter 11 of Natalie Page this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Natalie Page by Catherine Havilland Taylor chapter 11 strange noises are heard Saturday night could not have been regarded as restful in fact a great many things happen beside the bracelet sliding in my room in that strange way I managed to get up enough courage to get out of bed and put it away after an hour or so when I at last did get to sleep it was way past midnight and I slept jerkily every once and again I would find myself sitting up reaching for my flashlight and staring at that spot near my bed where the Chumail bracelet had lain then I would lie back feeling sick trembling and breathing hard I couldn't seem to help this at 12.30 Evelyn let out a terrible yell there is no other word for this and things began to move even Amy and I got up this time feeling that we would not be suspected Aunt Penelope with her hair done in a tight wad at the back of her head was bending over Evelyn and saying well can't you tell me what upset you and Evelyn kept gasping no, no the hateful thing he put how could he oh, how could he then she stopped surveyed her hand and gasped some more what did he put Aunt Penelope questioned but Evelyn would only say let me alone between asserting that she was sure she was going to have hysterics and gasping and she told her mother that that flour paste on her hand was Adana's cream and then she began to moan we had not realized that she would blame him and we began to feel worried well, they got her feet in hot water and Aunt Penelope held the smelling salts under her nose and even Uncle Archie joined the crowd and I think it is the only time that I ever saw Aunt with him when she didn't ask him for money what's up he asked looking at Evelyn who had closed her eyes and was leaning back against the chair in a limp, sick way if you can tell me said Aunt Penelope irritably I will be grateful I am aroused from my sleep by hearing Evelyn scream and I get here and she won't explain and mother gasped Evelyn if you keep this up I will have hysterics I am in no mood to bear it oh, the feeling ha grunted Uncle Archie and paddled off to bed then Aunt told us to stay with Evelyn while she hunted the aromatic spirits of ammonia and we settled down to listen to her gas we felt sorry but it was sort of funny and especially when she said is nothing true is nothing sacred and I suppose she meant that that basket should have been too hallowed to him to fill with flower paste Amy giggled and then said she felt nervous and that made it but Evelyn didn't hear her so it didn't matter she was too busy being dramatic to think she whispered that I believed him thought it real and then as they say in fiction she laughed holly after this she calmed and while we were waiting for Aunt Penelope's return the noise came a scratching noise on the window sill in my room what's that Evelyn gasped sitting up and quite forgetting to be limp I don't know I answered but my heart began to pump for I was afraid I did I felt that it was connected with my brace that then I later found that I was right I stood up and tried to go to my room but my knees didn't work well they seemed to think that they were cast and that's and that I wanted them to play a tune I didn't but that didn't influence them Amy began to cry hush said Evelyn and she leaned forward and in the stillness we listened there would be a scraping sound then a lull and then another long grating rasping sound and on top of this suddenly there were two raps somehow I reached the door which led to the small hall that connected the rooms and from here I almost shouted what do you want? and then after one rap and the sputtering sound of wood the noises stopped I sank down in that chair by the door and bit my lips to study them when I looked at Amy she was biting too but at her nails and as if they must all be shortened just as far as possible in ten seconds she looked terribly intent and funny I saw that even then Evelyn had got one foot out of the tub and held it dripping in midair she had her left hand over her heart then Aunt Penelope came back looking as white as a sheet and carrying the bottle of ammonia upside down in one hand on court too and the ice pick in the other did you hear it? she whispered and then she went over to Evelyn and said drink this immediately immediately and gave her the ice pick but no one laughed then there was an awful noise and everyone screamed but the voice of uncle Archie was heard to say something that I cannot quote and everyone was reassured he had only run into an onyx pedestal which has Leonardo da Vinci's or Raphael's I've forgotten which flying mercury on it yet encountered this in the dark in a moment he stood in the doorway rubbing his shins and buttering what's up? he asked if you will tell me rattled Aunt Penelope so fast you could hardly hear it words I shall be grateful we must all be calm Amy stop biting your nails you drive me crazy I was in the pantry when it began in that of his room I think Evelyn put your foot back in the tub the water's dripping all over the rug and I heard it and few granted uncle Archie and went toward my room in it we heard him turn on the lights and put up the window which opened on the small iron balcony from which one can lower a fire escape if necessary trembling we followed him Evelyn didn't even stop to wipe her feet and we saw that the window still was splintered and that there were deep dents in it as if someone had pounded in a huge nail and then pulled it out more thieving said Aunt we must be calm I'm going to faint I know I am Evelyn get your bedroom slippers there seems to be no safety no calm but if you will just try to hold onto control and then somehow Amy got tangled up in the telephone cord and pulled the telephone from the table on the table over with it and Aunt simply screamed Uncle Archie was tired he said he was going to live at the club if things didn't change and the Frank where he talked diverted everyone for a few moments then after a half hour more everyone went to bed but the lights were all left on and no one slept much before I went to bed I looked for the bracelet which I was surprised to find undisturbed we had a very late breakfast the next morning and we all had it together and really had a good time even Evelyn was pleasant and it was the last time for ages that she was nice to me we had the Sunday papers to look at Uncle Archie gets great money and we all had a section and commented on the pictures and that made talk Evelyn became greatly interested in a group of pictures of some important Spanish people we've been visiting New York on some mission someone had taken them to see the Jumel Mansion because of course it is a great show place and outside of this a reporter had snapped them I felt sure that Srita Margarita Angela Blanco y Chiapa was the little Spanish woman who had so greatly admired the Jumel bracelet and who had so extravagantly voiced her admiration in her liquid tongue by her was a tall very handsome man who looked down and he was a Cuban sugar king it said under the picture his name was Vincente Alcón E. Rodriguez Evelyn and I decided he admired Margarita a great deal his look at her made the picture very interesting then of course there were two or three others standing on the steps and one walking toward the camera with one foot in mid-air and a swinging arm blurred that has to happen in every group photograph we fooled around this way until about a quarter of 12 and then because the day was lovely Amy and I decided to take a walk and Evelyn who hadn't in engagement before three said she'd go with us so we all put on our outdoor things and started out Evelyn was just as pleasant as she could be and we had a lovely time and I can't think why she isn't that way always since everyone likes her so much when she is kind but once in a while she was quiet and seemed absent minded and during one of these attacks Amy whispered we'll have to fix it she thinks it was him I nodded and I agreed we really didn't want to hurt her or to make trouble we only wanted to have a little fun she does raise such cane that it is hard not to frighten her if one hasn't good opportunity and of course if you have initiative you cannot help making your opportunities the day as I said was lovely made being out great fun there was a high wind which swept your skirts around you made you draw deep breaths and fight to walk against it Evelyn didn't like it so much but Amy and I did thoroughly then a great many men chased hats and most of them were fat and bald which added to the interest of the stroll and we saw men taking photographs of people on the street they go around doing this on Sundays and holidays especially some of the people looked funny while they were being taken and we enjoyed that although of course we didn't let them see that we did after a long half hour of this Evelyn said she was tired and we turned toward home at the corner we encountered Mr. Herbert Appthorpe who is part owner of the basket he fell into step with us Evelyn icely presented him to me he greeted me casually and then spoke to her I hope you aren't tired after last night he said Evelyn had gone to a party with him and he referred to that but she understood it in a different way of course I'm tired she replied and it was the most horrible experience of my life he looked baffled as anyone would and not exactly flattered although Amy and I were sorry we couldn't help giggling before it was so funny to see them Evelyn glared at him and he did nothing but swallow he had been grinning at her in a silly way for a few moments after they met sort of as if he didn't want to but couldn't help it and that made me agree with Amy about their mutual interest but soon as grin faded I think he swallowed it I never saw anyone do so much swallowing his Adam's apple looked like a monkey on a stick I never pretended that I could dance he said stiffly Evelyn ignored this then he looked at us and I felt in his look a great lack of cordiality I'm sure he wished that we weren't there but we were glad we were I cannot see he said I do not understand and then Evelyn actually allowed herself a sneer you alone she said understand my horror of slimy things you alone know about the receptacle I suppose she thought receptacle would stall us but it didn't and so she finished coldly the role of innocent is absurd to assume Evelyn he said and the way he said it was really dramatic and then her voice shaking she ended with I'm at a loss to comprehend your ideas of humor Mr. Apthorpe and I must request that you do not ask me to comprehend any of your moods hereafter and then with head held high she swept into the door and we followed her we were really proud to know her for she had done it so beautifully but we were sorry too and decided to fix it up when we had time however the violets made it worse I warned Amy against taking them but she would since they had an altered in them and she wanted to dazzle a girl she doesn't like but was going to take driving however that happened Monday at two on Sunday Mr. Kempwood sent me up a little ivory elephant that I have liked to keep and a magazine which he loaned me because it had some letters in it from Captain Roger Morris Mrs. Amherst Morris had written the article and it appeared in the Hartfordshire Magazine for November 1907 in one letter he said God Almighty grant that some fortunate circumstance will happen to bring about a suspension of hostilities as for myself I breathe on peace I can have none until I am back with you how much I miss you your repeated marks of tender love and esteem so daily occurred to my mind that I'm totally unhinged only imagine that I who as you well know never thought myself so happy anywhere as under my own roof have now no home and I'm a wanderer from day to day and that did make me feel sorry for him I think his wife who Mr. Kempwood says was a famed beauty and a toast of that day for men drank toast to women then if they liked them must have been kind as well as pretty for a man may love a woman first for the loveliness of her skin or her eyes or her hair but he loves her long for only one thing and that is the beauty of her spirit in another letter he called her his dearest life which I think must have gratified her and in this he wrote my chief wishes to spend the remainder of my days with you whose prudency is my great comfort and his kindness in sharing with patients and resignation those misfortunes which we have not brought upon ourselves is never failing I was interested in those letters I think the way they express themselves in other days is fascinating and shows perhaps more clearly than anything else the changes that have come to men and women Mr. Vernon castles letters to his wife were not at all like that Evelyn cut some of those out of a magazine and I'm quite sure if a man was in Captain Roger Morris circumstances today he would write dear old girl I do hope things will clear up in a hurry for I would like to get home you can bet or something like that you cannot imagine the average New Yorker of today calling his wife dearest life after I read the magazine I decided I would go out again for I've never got over the stuffy feeling that indoors gives me I feel as if I am only half breathing so I put on my things and started out in a queer way the Jumail mansion beckoned to me I felt as if I must go there I suppose it is my nervous dread of what may happen next to my bracelet that almost makes me visit it but anyway whatever it is when I walk I find myself turned toward it and before I know it there and when I first reached it I was so glad I had decided to go for I found Mr. Kempwood coming up the long walk from Amsterdam Avenue and he waved to me and I waited I thanked him as hard as I could for the elephant he told me that he had put a little charm on that elephant and that I was to keep it as long as I liked him and when I stopped I must return it for in such case his wish or charm would have to break I said it was mine for life where I was sure I would always care for him and his friendship very soberly he said please do and then after a long breath the wind was high again and I suppose he felt it he asked me where I was going I told him to the Jumail mansion Washington's headquarters and the Roger Morris House he said I was a clever person to do it all at once which was a joke as they are all one suppose he said we sit down outside or is it too cold for you I replied that it wasn't and we climbed the high steps and sat on the green bench which faces the Jumail mansion porch and Mr. Kempwood talked and made me see things look over there he said I looked I saw nothing until he spoke again and made me pretend and suddenly I seemed to see there is an elegant carriage he said four elegant is what they said in those days but the horse's heads drew for they have come all the way from New York to enable the charming Polly to see the spot where she will live she has got out Roger she says I think it is a grand sight and most beautiful we shall be situated any mutters dearest heart of hearts but under his breath for Mrs. Robinson is with them the river's so calm flowing Mary the lips Morris or the charming Polly continues but is it prudence for us to have two establishments my husband anything you wish and that I can give you is prudence he responds gallantly and Mrs. Beverly Robinson who has overheard a bit of this puts in with the air my dear for you and the children is worth a deal often I've remarked the Beverly since our living part time at Dobbs Ferry how did we stand the entire year within the strict confines of the crowded town I smiled at Mr. Kempwood and said I liked that for I had a lot what did she have on? I asked he muttered him from stump he confessed and laughed I suppose she wore a cap he continued for they did at about 27 in those days and a sky blue satin frock all quilted and made very tight around the waist fitted you know low neck then with a lace ruffle which fell over her shoulders with that do not I liked his calling me that not I told him so it made me think of uncle I told him that too well he said I like you're liking it but I don't like my reminding you of your uncle and then he poked around in the gravel at his feet with his cane he seemed to be thinking pretty hard and I didn't interrupt him after a while he asked if I fought 33 very old and I said I didn't although I really did but I judged he was 33 and he is however I've come to know that age is misleading for he is quite as young as I am inside the years have only added niceness to him after another silence I asked him to go on and he did there's a group on the porch he said in front of this stands a man called Washington he is staring off toward New York which is a huge city of some 30,000 souls there's a tired sag to his shoulders and discouragement shows in every line of his figure he rubs his hand across his eyes see probably he hasn't slept well for worries will make even a good bed hard he's been made commander in chief of the army recently it seems John Adams urged this at the second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775 the way things are going makes him unhappy nervous true he had driven the British from Boston which they had held about two years and they were also whipped out of North and South Carolina but now they are turning their attention to New York the Hudson River and Lake Champlain Washington has guessed that they hope to divide the North and the South and so he has mustered troops and hurried them here it has been a military headquarters before and so he does not have to ask permission for his youth from Mrs. Roger Morris that might embarrass him for it was said that he once entertained rather tender sentiments toward that lady I wonder if he's thinking of her now do you think so, Matt? Mr. Kempwood stared toward the porch and I did too if he is I said I hope his wife won't know it for she is probably worrying about him and it would be discouraging to worry about a man who is romancing over a lost love Mr. Kempwood agreed forgotten Martha he said all apologies he is thinking of her see him take a wallet out of his pocket and pretend to look at a map well under that there's a silhouette he's looking at that I nodded for I like that better I'm sure he loved her I said probably he looks back at his younger affair and says in truth I was a young idiot to think my heart did pound a merry tune for her who now wears two chins wear but one should be Mr. Kempwood like that would make him discouraged I asked anything in particular yes answered Mr. Kempwood the day before some of his troops from Connecticut turned and fled in utter terror the British had landed in New York and our boys hearing this had let their imaginations get the best of them there were only 60 of the foe but nothing could induce our poor soldiers to stand up to them horse whippings and they were whipped by everyone from Washington down had no effect they simply turned and fled you know he said with a meaning look at me imagination can make lots that isn't worth notice grow very gruesome I smiled and nodded then I looked down at my bracelet the battle of Harlem Heights came somewhere along there he went on I don't know quite when but our soldiers fought well after that one day of fright and redeemed themselves the British after that for a little space took the affair as a joke and when they started out to fight one day blew bugles to indicate that it was in the nature of a hunt but they didn't do that more than once was General Washington here very long I asked as I looked up at the porch and seemed to see him no Mr. Kempwood answered only 33 days after that the British took possession when you think of what those old walls have seen and heard Mr. Kempwood paused then he stood up smiled down at me and I knew that history was over my dear child he said that breeze is too strong I'm sure that your time will have rheumatism I should feel so sorry if it grew stiff I like to see it waving in the wind shall we go in for a little while I said I thought it would be fine and we did as we stood before the portrait of Madame Jumel and her niece and nephew I began to feel cold and frightened Mr. Kempwood pointed out the break in the canvas and I couldn't help feeling a little scornful toward the boy weak I said Mr. Kempwood like most people misunderstood my meaning he thought I meant because he had let himself be married at 15 to a woman who only wanted his money he was paid for that poor boy in more than unhappiness from Madame Jumel disinherited him and she sewed a black patch over his face too saying that he had placed it there by hurting his character again as I looked she seemed to smile I became frightfully absurdly frightened and I slipped the bracelet from my arm she does not want me to have it I whispered Mr. Kempwood laughed at me and even ridiculed me a little but it did not help then he took the bracelet and slipped it in his pocket I let him have it until I was myself again and then I took it back we were alone in that little back room at the time looking up at a high set cupboard which Mr. Kempwood thought had once held much good English ale and he said he wished some of it would come back to haunt its home of long before since he was getting tired of bevel I'm ashamed I said give me the bracelet and he clasped it on and said now dear child no more nonsense but he was so gentle about this that it was not a scolding after that he said by George and looked at his watch dinner engagement he added quickly and a half hour overdue goodbye Nat I'll see you Monday or Tuesday want to take you to the hippodrome but he saw me before that and he did not keep the dinner of engagement he couldn't for he was unconscious at that time I thought dead end of chapter 11 chapter 12 of Natalie Page this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information for it to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Natalie Page by Catherine Haviland Taylor chapter 12 what happened for a few minutes after Mr. Kempwood left I moved around looking at the Napoleon relics which of course are fascinating some people think that Stephen Jumel bought these from royalty itself but others think that they came to Madame Jumel and were by way of wiping out and indebtedness Madame Jumel lived in Paris between 1819 and 1826 and during those years the cousin of the Empress Josephine who was Madame La Comptesse de la Pagerie made her home with the Jumels and moved with them from house to house as they did seeming one of the family part of the establishment I think she was not well off and had to accept much from the Jumels for which she could make no return so when Madame Jumel came back to America the Comptesse settled in snuff boxes vases, shoebuckles, lockets and deer nose, what all and I think Madame Jumel probably made a good bargain for she was the sort who could do that it is said that the things that she brought to the United States were valued at $25,000 which strengthens the fact that she must have got them without money output for at that time Stephen Jumel was in pecuniary straits and probably some of that size would have been difficult for him to spare for such purpose I love looking at them and thinking of how the Empress Josephine might have had this or that small box upon her dressing table and it always gives me a curious feeling I think old things are much more interesting because of the people who have touched them and I've often thought that if you could touch one of these things and close your eyes you might drift off into a dream that would take you into another time but I suppose that is silly after I had moved around for perhaps seven or eight minutes I heard a small boy call to another come out here he screamed in a high soprano there's a man biffed on the beam and maybe he's dead and how people moved I didn't immediately I couldn't for I remembered my giving Mr. Kimbley the bracelet and I knew what had happened I felt sick and swallowed hard and although I hadn't any more spit than usual but that is the way that fright made me feel it was the worst I'd ever felt somehow I hurried toward the door with the crowd and I then did the second cowardly thing which hurt one of my friends who cares for the mansion I slipped off my bracelet and handed it to him until I come back I whispered after a gasp he nodded and put it in his pocket I suppose he thought I was afraid of sneak thieves in the mob which had collected then I pushed through the door all the excitement was back of the mansion where Mr. Kimbley on the ground absolutely white and with his eyes closed some people were bending over him I began to sob although I didn't cry and any tears at all let me through I said as I tried to get past the circle which had formed I know him I love him he has been good to me and he is my friend and then somehow I'd reached him and was on my knees beside him holding one of his cold stiff hands between both of mine is he dead I whispered to one of the policemen stunned he answered for a moment I held his hand tightly pressed against my heart and then I began to sob harder than ever I think the relief that comes with good news often makes you more upset than the bad and hurts more I don't know why this is but it is so after a few moments a policeman asked me where he lived and I told him someone offered a motor and they began to lift Mr. Kimbley another officer had detained some people and was questioning them weren't you here he asked of a heavy old Italian woman we'd been sitting on a bench but she only shook her head blinked and muttered non-parlo la inglesa parlo italiano salamante and someone said she had been sleeping but the officer looked doubtful nevertheless he said we won't take you along and I in that moment saw that she did understand for in her eyes was a sudden grant of terror it faded soon and she replaced it with a vacant look but I had caught the other I think she had seen she knows I began to say when suddenly everything was forgotten for from the jumelle mansion came a cry which began loudly and faded to a horrible silence and the cry was for help of course the officers ran and somehow the old Italian woman slipped away I had seen her the moment before but when I turned back to look after Mr. Kimbley I found only the old blind man coming up the side steps to the garden shuffling shambling up with his cane feeling the way he and I and a doctor were alone the old Italian woman is gone I said and I think she knew don't think so said the doctor as he moved Mr. Kimbley's head and felt the back of it couldn't speak English she was frightened when the men come back we can get someone to help us lift him in a motor he's going to come around all right but that was a blow right over the back of the head you say he lives near here I nodded and then someone came back and helped us lift Mr. Kimbley in a motor what happened in there I asked unsteadily as we moved toward the gate and down the steps one of the guards knocked senseless he answered over the back of the head like this busy day for excitement around here there you are he is awake the guard isn't hurt badly and nothing broken but the glass over the little case that held the bracelet is cracked I nodded feeling more sick and faint than ever and then returned toward home the doctor held up Mr. Kimbley who was beginning to groan and I held his cane and said my prayers hard for I felt that it was all my fault and that is a terrible feeling somehow I got through the next hour I will never know how they said to Mr. Kimbley told me he wasn't going to die and would truly be all right and I left of course I went back to the Juma mansion I had to here I found the sort of let down that you always find after excitement everyone was limp and sat down whenever possible one of the women told me about it I was in the back room she said Mr. Kelsey had just come in and shown me your bracelet he whispered to me think I'll put it up in the cupboard then if she comes back for it when I'm not here you can give it to her I nodded thinking that a safe place that high cupboard you know I did it had always fascinated me it seemed big enough for a spy to hide in and I wondered whether one ever had hidden there he put it there she went on and then went back to the front room I went to the window I looked out at the crowd which had collected about your friend Mr. Kempwood and then I heard Mr. Kelsey's cry I suppose I was slow about reaching him you know how your knees act and how fright sometimes slows actions for before I reached him I heard the blow which I found afterward had been directed at the bracelet case and when I reached him he was not alone the old blind man who was around here so much was with him he was standing in the doorway saying someone has hurt someone has hurt well no one come to help and there were tears on his cheeks it added to all the rest was almost the last straw I saw him in the garden before I left I said and he was all right then you couldn't have she contradicted he was here the entire time someone took him off and started him toward Amsterdam Avenue and that was 10 minutes after the whole affair had quieted down but I said and with some heat I did see him I really did how could you she asked if he was here I shook my head and gave it up she was unconvinced I could see probably thinking that the excitement had me incapable of realizing what I'd really seen or when I had seen it but I had seen him in the garden I knew that well I said that isn't vital you said Mr. Kelsey isn't badly hurt again she assured me that he wasn't and I was greatly relieved then she gave me the bracelet I snapped it on and left as I went out I paused before the portrait for it did seem as if what Madame Jamel saw from that had an effect on events made them rather horrible ones I couldn't speak for there were people in the hall but I bared my arm and thought very hard I have it back if anyone must be hurt I must be the person for it is mine and hereafter I will keep the responsibility and after that I turned toward home I stopped at Mr. Kempwood's going up and I found that he was conscious and wanted to see me I was very glad to see him I couldn't speak at all but simply clung to his hand however he seemed to understand so it was all right sit down Miss Natalie Randolph paid she ordered and a servant slid a chair near his bed and I did then the man left and we were alone you know it was my fault I said because I gave you that bracelet and then I had to stop speaking that made me dreadfully ashamed I had to look down too because I didn't want him to see that my eyes were full of tears once I never cried but the whole affair was making me jumpy and unlike my old self and Mr. Kempwood's being hurt had almost made me sick look here Nat he said turning over very carefully so that he faced me we're friends aren't we I nodded just as hard as I could for emphasis for various reasons I decided I would not speak just then I was afraid my voice would behave as Willie Jepsen's used to when he was 14 he himself never knew whether it was going to sound like Hamlet in The Soleilic Week or Miss Hooker when she saw a fuzzy caterpillar and those ranges differ widely but if we're friends meant on Mr. Kempwood whatever bothers you must bother me I wanted to I shook my head oh no I said he nodded and stopped I think it hurt and said oh yes just the way I said oh no I laughed a little and then I wiped my eyes when I thought you were dead I said go on he ordered what happened did you mind it or wonder whether you had enough of your allowance left for a nice wreath honestly confess your thought all over again I choked up my dear he said something I think he saw how I felt I'm not going to leave life I love it too much especially since we've been friends why I'd hang on to it now with both hands and I'd like to see anyone make me let it go now I'm going to stick around and by the time you're 20 we'll be the best friends going I've planned my campaign you're helpless I smiled at him and explained how much he had helped me in New York and how different he had made it all seem of course I told him that my aunt uncle and cousins were kind to me for they are but I said once in a while I was a little lonely and when I thought of New York without him I almost fainted and I explained about how I felt when I thought he was dead especially about the swallowing so much when there was nothing to swallow and no occasion for doing him and I added that lots of times in the dentist chair when I needed to swallow dreadfully I couldn't and that it was strange how emotions affected you he listened attentively and agreed with me about the last then he asked if I had been carrying his cane around all day and I looked and found a hat I was surprised I must have taken it to the Jumail mansion back and even up to aunt's I clung to it without thinking because I was so upset I suppose you don't need it he said with a flicker of hurt going across his face no I answered and I did wish I were tactful but I never know quite what to say beside the truth which makes me clumsy and you care an awful lot about men who go in for athletics don't you he asked they seemed men to you I think he imagined that our friendship couldn't be as deep because I liked outdoor things and his lameness kept him from enjoying them but it was deeper for while I knew all he missed I also saw all he gained from pain or whatever it is that makes some people who aren't strong in all ways nicer I like you best this way I said him very awkwardly I'm afraid but Mr. Kempert always seems to understand I'm sorry you have to carry it I went on but I think it has made you nicer and kinder if I were ever very unhappy or needed help I would come to you and then I stood up for I thought it was time to go you can leave my cane by the bedside he said I find I don't dislike it quite so much as I thought then his voice changed and became everyday and he said goodbye child you're not going to be nervous I promised him I wouldn't and waved at him from the doorway I went up to our floor feeling much better everyone was out when I decided to dress because Ellen was to have guests and she had said that Amy and I might appear for a little while if we liked on my bureau I found a note it was scrawled hurriedly as before and had the same initials under it and it said don't wear the duke with it of my bracelet today I will see that something unpleasant happens if you do E. J. End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of Natalie Page This is a Libra Box recording All Libra Box recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org Natalie Page by Catherine Haviland Taylor Chapter 13 Blue Monday Everything started wrong Monday morning when Amy found that Evelyn was going to return some violets Mr. Epp Thorpe sent her It's disgusting she said for they have an orchid in them and then she stood looking out of the window and tapping on the glass with her fingertips going to rain all day she said next I know it will slow rains like this always do and I haven't a decent thing for fall wear look how the leaves are blowing must have come for blocks it's a horrid time and then she sat down and stared dismally ahead of her I felt like that too for the day was depressing and the happenings of the afternoon before had left me feeling fearful of what might come next it had all been reasoned out that a pair of thieves had worked together and that one, finding Mr. Kempwood alone had thought what his pockets might hold worth the risk of holding him up and the empty Jumo mansion had afforded another opportunity it was all reasoned out as I said and sounded well but I didn't believe it I knew it was connected with my bracelet there were too many signs that pointed to this I was absolutely sure I've never had any orchids said Amy after a few moments and mother didn't like me have any summer furs and sometimes I don't know what life has held for me except pain and going without then she fumbled for a handkerchief consider, she said oratorically after she had wiped her eyes how could I use that orchid here I am taking Lattice Howell to Bertha Clay's little party this afternoon Bertha asked me to stop for her and I could so easily use it to impress them I never liked them because they have constantly impressed upon me that they were older I think an orchid mashed in a lot of violets would make them sit up and respect me I agree with her do you think Evelyn would give them to you? I asked maybe she could tell him she wouldn't accept them but that you would that's like you said Amy and almost neared so I realized that my suggestion wasn't a good one we were quiet after that for I didn't know what to say and Amy didn't want to talk the direction of the rain had changed and it began to fall more quickly beating a little somber tune upon the window as it fell the ivy on the house next door was dripping and the leaves hung their heads and here and there were thin spots where the arms of the vine stood out boldly against the bricks fall had come I could see down below the pavements would be sticky with rain and dust together making a paste and here and there a leaf would glue itself tight to the sidewalk its colors spoiled by the city dirt it had caught after it fell I knew what would be happening at home every little lane would have a bonfire after dark and the sparks from those would fly against the first grey night sky then the girls and boys would come out and all play hide and seek all over the town and even down by the river and the lumber and the air would be cool and make you want to run and the leaves would rustle in every gutter for there are so many trees that even with sweeping up and burning the leaves constantly there are always more and more and more and the crowd would roast apples and corn and the creek is lovely in the late afternoons echoing as it does all the red and golden world we always had paper chases in the fall too and that was great fun because the paper would get lost in the leaves and the trail was easily lost sitting there in that hot, stuffy apartment I saw it all and I seemed to smell the burning leaves in the odor of baking apples and hear the snap of chestnuts as they opened in the heat and oh, how I wanted it I wanted to go home and play ball in the middle of the street to see Miss Hooker mensing along and hear her call Natalie, aren't you ashamed to play ball? a great girl like you to go home, way after supper time so hungry that I ached under my belt and to find that Bradley dear had made fresh donuts and that Uncle Frank had all three pairs of glasses on his forehead and was hunting them all so that he could look more closely at a cocoon he had just found oh, I wanted it I think I would have been utterly miserable but Amy diverted me going to take them, she said, standing up Evelyn will never know and he won't go rooting around in a returned box if he has any sense of fitness he will fling it from him with a curse and bury his head in his arms I knew Amy had read that somewhere because it wasn't her style but I didn't say I knew it wouldn't he, she questioned I said I supposed he would well, then, what's the use of those violets in that orchid rotting? she asked and she acted exactly as if I were opposing her although I was not often I have found people do this when they want to convince themselves they shout at you as if you, instead of their conscience were objecting I said there wasn't any I hate waste she said loudly and stood up and hasn't the government preached against waste for ages? orchids are much more valuable than flour I knew that and said so then she confided that the box was in the hall waiting for E2 to take it down and that Evelyn had put a note inside Amy said she was going to take the note out and slip it under the cord and wait the box was something light so that it's emptiness wouldn't be suspicious then she left to return in a moment looking very satisfied put an old pair of stockings in it she said Evelyn had thrown them in the waste basket because they had to run up the back and it feels just right when you lift it E2 took the flowers and put them in the pantry refrigerator and said he wouldn't speak of them after I gave him 50 cents I hated that but when you consider an orchid and violets are cheap at 50 cents after that she was quite cheered up and I became so too we decided we must right the wrong we had done and fix up Evelyn's and Mr. Apthorpe's quarrel and it seemed quite safe to blame it on Jane but it wasn't we took a piece of paper out of the waste basket and Amy wrote I did it I put the paste in the basket as a joke I beg forgiveness Jane I said that wasn't like Jane and we compromised on I done it I put that there paste in the basket and kindly ask your pardon Jane and we giggled quite a little overdoing it then we took it to Evelyn's room and put it back of the hair receiver suppose she speaks to Jane I asked Amy looked annoyed you have more sensible suggestions that make trouble she complained but she wrote this edition if this is as much as spoke of I shall leave and she said that she was glad I thought of it they always mention leaving she said it's as much a part of modern servants as their uniforms it gives such the touch and then feeling very clever we went to the living room where we had lunch on a little table before the fire there was a man in the dining room arranging for new hangings and I was glad for eating on the small table was fun and cozy that part of the day was nice we talked to Eto as he served and told him how tired we got of nourishing food and asked him if there wasn't something sweet in the kitchen beside the blanc mage which Aunt had ordered for us he thought so and vanished to return with fruit cake and meringues which had nothing to go in them but which we accepted with gratitude all together it was a charming hour Amy grew confidential I suppose the firelight and the closed-in feeling that the rain pattering on the windows gave us made that and she told me of her ambitions she is going to marry a millionaire who worships the ground she walks on and live on Fifth Avenue in the biggest house there and have Henry Hutt paint her portrait because she loves this kind of art and she said her husband would have her portrait in a little room all lined with pink velvet and put violets under it the portrait not the velvet every day she has it all arranged he is to be a broker and after coming home from downtown he will go in that room which Amy calls his heart sanctuary and kneel before her picture I asked her why he didn't kneel before her and she said she'd be off playing auction or at the matinee then she ate her third meringue and stared absently into the fire life is what you make it she said and then he is going to wear a checked suit and a red tie I couldn't see him kneeling in that pink room and that rake but I didn't say anything what are you going to do with your future she questioned after an interval of silence I told her I only asked to be allowed to climb fences and ride and fish and stay at home in Queensburg then I realized I had not been tactful and tried to fix it up but I couldn't and our nice time was spoiled Amy told me that I was frightfully gauche and embarrassed her in Evelyn a lot and as for my staying at home it was only kindness of them to take me out of it and then she spoke of my new clothes which I did not think was nice and told me just how much Aunt Penelope had paid for them I felt myself growing white as you do when you are very hurt and I told her I would someday pay for those clothes after which she stopped speaking and looked embarrassed don't worry about that she said in a moment mother expected to have to do that for you she said she knew your things would be frightful I thought of Mrs. Bradley's making them and all the weariness of the rain in the many miles which lay between me and Queensburg sunk into my heart and ate I felt miserable mother is going to speak to you Amy went on she hasn't any time before Wednesday morning but she has you marked for then I saw it on her pad Natalie, Tan is on it she is going to ask you to be more careful of your conversational topics I suppose you know you didn't make a hit yesterday I hadn't supposed I had but I didn't know I'd done anything very wrong I said I was sorry if I had you should be said Amy that description of how wasps laid eggs, annoyed Evelyn someone else was talking about the Russian arts and you came in with that and it sounded queer egg laying is not a subject for afternoon teas anyway I didn't see why not but I didn't say so what I did say was that I was sorry I had annoyed Evelyn and that someday in some way I would pay them back all I was costing them then I stood up and said I thought I would go off and rest for a little while my voice sounded heavy and dull as voices do when someone has put out all your inside fire with the cold douche of their disapproval Amy shrugged her shoulders and didn't reply and I went to my room here I sat down and thought sort of miserably we had had lights on in the drawing room and the fire had cheered but my room on lit was gray and seemed chilly in spite of being really warm then I tried to write Uncle Frank and Bradley Deere but I couldn't as I tore up what I had written and turned away from my small desk my attention was caught by a movement at the window I saw the inner drapery ripple and that someone was hidden behind it I got up shaking horribly and went to the hall to call Ito he was slow to answer my ring and when he at last did it was no wonder that the curtain had nothing wind he said I shook my head then he looked around thoroughly but nothing could be seen wind he said and this time as a statement but I was not convinced although I let him think I was I heard Amy dressing in the adjoining room and I was glad she hadn't heard the noise or what it was about I asked Ito not to tell her and then because I did not want to talk to her just then I put on a plain gray sailor a long coat and my over shoes and started out the rain had almost stopped and was beginning to be amiss I didn't put up my umbrella but let it blow against my cheeks and it helped me after I had walked eight or nine blocks I began to feel better I did not think Amy had been kind but I began to realize that her lack of it was not all her fault no one had ever seemed to have time to teach her the rules the rules that make you take a beating without noise and make you treat the visiting team as if they were royalty and make you shoulder your own mistakes they would have taught her to stand up to punishment even if it wasn't hers and bear this unless the other fellow was big enough to speak and she would have learned that it isn't decent to give a person things and then speak of the cost Mrs. Bradley and Uncle Frank and baseball taught me those things and with all my heart I am grateful that I have learned them for although knowing how to enter a room is nice knowing how to be square is of most importance and I am sure it should come first I walked a long way the streets were more empty than usual and I liked that the gray skylights caught in the wet pavements which reflected everything and it was pretty I began to feel very much better on my way home I found a woman selling violets and I bought a little bouquet for Mr. Kempwood it took all of two dollars which Uncle Frank had sent me but I was so glad to spend it that way I stopped at Mr. Kempwood's going up Evelyn had just driven up in a motor but she was with friends whom I didn't know so I didn't wait I don't think, to be honest that she wanted me to for she only looked quickly at me and my violets gave a casual wave and turned back to speak to the group in the car Mr. Kempwood had not gone downtown and was glad to see me and I took off my coat and sat down with him before a fire it seemed hot as indoors so often does after you've been walking fast in the rain I felt my cheeks grow warm he was very glad to get the violets and put them in a little glass basket that shimmered with hundreds of colors he said they were positively the nicest violets he had ever had and I could see that he really liked my bringing them to him I hadn't dreamed that it would please him so much and I began to be honestly happy after a while without his knowing why I asked it I asked if he had thought the mention of how a certain sort of wasp laid eggs was wrong and I told him about how they did it mentioning Uncle Frank with pride Uncle Frank, of course has taught me all I know of insect life it seems this sort of wasp lays eggs in the back of caterpillars the shaved varieties and they hatch there and eat the caterpillar who dies which I think is sad but clever of the wasp and I told him that I had heard of a country girl telling this story at a tea and embarrassing people to whom she was related and why shouldn't she and was it terrible and didn't he feel sorry for the caterpillar he answered at length he said that it was perfect rod for anyone to be offended by that and why should they be he grew quite angry the world, he said, is full of fools Nat, you couldn't say anything unpleasant my dear, it isn't in you I didn't want him to know it was I and I thought I had fixed it so he wouldn't but he was very clever you can say anything, he went on if you look at it in the bright true light of decency and speak of it allowed I nodded my eyes on him I know, I agreed my dear, I know you do he said then he asked if he might smoke and lit a cigarette I think that's an interesting story he continued after a few puffs and I'll admit it was clever of Mrs Wasp but pretty hard on the amiable caterpillar think of being out for a stroll and having a dain nursery grafted on you and then consider finding yourself a boarding house and on top of that being asked to supply meals at all hours I don't blame the old boy for kicking off it would be simply too much I wondered how he could protect himself and Mr. Kempwood said he shouldn't have shaved he said shaving made men lots of trouble anyway and if this fellow had been wise and grown a van dyke on his back all troubles with the adopted family would have been avoided then I said I must go and stood up do you think, I asked that Madam Jumail ever had a servant who grew blind or did anyone who was ever blind love her very much I heard, said Mr. Kempwood that one of those French refugees went blind and that she let him stay around the place but don't know how much truth there is in it someone who had known the coach man's son said that this old chap used to sit out near the back door and sing peasant songs of his part of France and that he worshipped old Madam Jumail I think perhaps he missed royalty and that she seemed that to him anyway it is said that he swore he would do anything for her that she asked and that, blind or not he would accomplish what he set out to do I was interested and it was as I supposed why do you ask he questioned someday perhaps I'll tell you I responded but not now and then I left as I started from my walk that day I had passed the blind man and for a space in one empty street he had followed me and as I returned I found him sitting huddled up in a little dry spot near the basement entrance of our building I meant to keep the bracelet it was mine but keeping it was beginning to be a terror striking matter I thought of it fearfully I will confess as I went up to our apartment but once there all thoughts of Madam Jumail's servant Madam Jumail and my bracelet fled for Evelyn stood in the center of the hall orating to Aunt Penelope she held an empty box in one hand in the note Amy and I had written and signed with Jane's name in the other and then I felt the blue spot in all that blue Monday End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of Natalie Page This is a LibraBox recording while LibraBox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org Natalie Page by Catherine Havelin Taylor Chapter 14 Evelyn Blames Me She did it said Evelyn shrilly as I stepped through the door I saw her carrying them she even had the assurance to smile at me and wave and as to this she waved the note that is only what I would expect from a prying thieving chit who has had no upbringing and who is suddenly thrown among people of cultivation I she stopped looked at the empty box and choked Aunt Penelope who was looking awfully baffled stooped to pick up one of the stockings that had fallen from the box what is this she asked in a sort of vacant tone and the question and all that tangled in its answer evidently enraged Evelyn for she almost exploded with rage what is it she echoed what is it ask her she pointed at me ever since she came she went on I have been bothered Amy never thought of doing a thing until she appeared Amy was always but she stopped for at that moment Amy came in and diverted the talk do you know anything about this Amy asked Aunt Penelope Amy looked at the box and then at me no she answered why should she asked Evelyn I told you I saw the violets I suppose she took them to Mr. Kimpood she's insane about him silly little thing I hope you will make an understood mother that if another thing like this happens she will be shipped to her backwards town to stay I didn't do it I said but my boys shook and even to myself it did not sound convincing didn't do it said Evelyn and she laughed unpleasantly where did you get the violets asked Aunt Penelope I told her and I looked at Amy but her face was hard and she answered none of the appeal I sent her for help and at that moment I began to hate her for a cheat she has helped herself to my bracelet too Evelyn accused for two days it was gone and when it came back there was a dent in it I didn't I whispered I honestly didn't but no one believed me have you any ideas about who made off with the violets asked Aunt who took the bracelet I said I had and she asked who it was and I said I'd rather not tell then there was a deep unpleasant silence and during this everyone looked at me we will have to have a very serious talk on Penelope said to me I think Natalie you have allowed yourself to forget what you owe us the debt our hospitality has laid on you I contested as politely as I knew how that I had not and I added that I had had nothing to do with the violet theft whatever else I was mixed up in do you mean to tell me demanded Evelyn waving the note we wrote that Amy had a thing to do with this I can't believe it you didn't did you, Amy? and again Amy said no it is too childish for her Evelyn continued triumphantly she plays as good a game of bridge as I do mother and she wouldn't stoop to this sort of action that we leave to people who accept everything and give nothing but trouble in some way I said I am going to pay you for everything and I could feel myself growing steadily more white for I was furiously angry and I am going home I added home or truth is believed and I am trusted then I looked at Amy I will take some blame about the paste I said indeed said Evelyn coolly her eyebrows raised why accept any since lying doesn't seem to triple you I didn't answer an aunt Penelope ran her hand over her forehead and said dear dear in a tried worried way then the doorbell rang and aunt Penelope Evelyn and Amy all became quite every day and tried to look usual I stood silent and ignored as Jane admitted Mr. Herbert Apthorpe he said Evelyn quite sharply and held out his hands you could see he cared for her and was glad things were fixed as I suspect they were and I think Evelyn was glad too although she didn't show it so plainly she only said oh Herbert nice of you to come to see us let's go in the living room I believe there's a fire there at that moment Jane summoned aunt Penelope to the telephone and Amy quite naturally disappeared I went down to see Mr. Kempwood for I was going to borrow the fares to go home but he persuaded me not to go and in this way after I had told him as much as I dared without squilling on Amy my dear he said if Washington had not fought out the battle of Harlem Heights New York might be a British possession today but courage and staying there saved the country and won a battle just in that way a man has to fight his battles through he owes that to his soul after his one or tried to going is another matter but you are not guilty your battle has just begun and I think you ought to stay here until you can leave without the shadow of suspicion hurting you hoist your flag wave it hard and stick I drew a deep breath if you think so I will I said then he cheered me a great deal by saying this is simply rotten and what's the matter with them I shook my head after that I stood up I must go I said and changed my clothes for dinner aunt Penelope cannot excuse lateness but I need not have hurried for I had my dinner in my room it was part of my punishment and everything was cold but I didn't mind I was very hungry after I finished eating I wrote Uncle Frank but it wasn't a good letter I told him about school starting the next week spoke about the weather and a little but not much about missing him I didn't dare tell him how much I really did for I knew it would make him unhappy and then I told him I looked at the bug quite a good deal which was true and after I finished the letter I got the little bug put it on my desk and studied it and what it meant for quite a long while and I think it helped me I didn't feel any happier from this but I felt more courage for if a mere bug could stand being entombed for three years so that it might finally blossom out with wings and a song I thought I could just as I got up to put on my bureau I heard a noise at the window I drew a very deep breath and then stopped breathing entirely for a minute after which I decided I would go to see what was happening for what Mr. Kempwood had said about battles made me want to fight mine very bravely and I did laugh when I got there for on top of a broom and a floor mop which had been lashed together to make height was a package it was tied there and down below poking this up was Mr. Kempwood he did a stage whisper which I heard clearly her room he said I never dreamed it but he had known for I told him I slept over the little room which he used for an office unlashed the ballast Juliet he commanded and I did then I said I wish I could come down he said he wished so too smiled and waved at me and I said I'd send him a note a little later on a string then I went inside and undid the package it held a wonderful box of candy with an uping ribbon on it for two chemises a copy of little women and a dear little box with an ivory kitten perched on top inside of this he had a rhyme it said this Thomas cat the mop post brings is well bred calm and never sings upon a fence at night the box he guards is for gnats rings cuff buttons studs and other things keeps them from dust and sight and if, my dear life cruel stings remember SK's friendship clings to you all right well I like that and it cheered me up and below that I found a little wad of paper which was twisted about a silver ring it was a lovely ring the silver was so prudely fashioned and held the amethyst so beautifully and on this paper was a line which said there's a wish on this put it on and see if it won't come true I hope it will fit and it did I was excited and really happy it was just like Christmas then I sat down and wrote Mr. Kimwood and ate candy as I did it life looked so much brighter I told him so and how happy he'd made me then I lowered this by a course at lace which was the only convenient lowering device that I could find and waited he answered my no promptly and he said dear Nat your note made me very happy I'd give my entire apartment and its contents any day to get a thank you note like yours I know things will smooth out soon they can't help it and meanwhile if a fella needs a friend she has it can't help having it in the apartment below please sleep well tonight small girl for we are going to the hippodrome tomorrow afternoon at 2 now aren't we until then SK I sent down one more note before I went to bed and because he assigned himself SK I called him that Mr. Kimwood seemed too cold for the way I liked him so I wrote I would love to go dear SK and I added thank you for everything and then I went to bed wearing my new ring and thinking a great deal about Mr. Kimwood and the hippodrome and I almost forgot the happenings of that afternoon which at the time had hurt fearfully end of chapter 14 chapter 15 of Natalie Page this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Natalie Page by Catherine Havelin Taylor chapter 15 what occurred Christmas time in New York is simply gorgeous and I loved it and it was then that all the intense excitement started and that people began to understand what had made me nervous but I must tell what happened before the holidays came for a good many things occurred which proved to be notes in the cord of the big mystery once more my bracelet disappeared and reappeared as it had before at night and this time the scratching woke me from a sound sleep and as before I saw a tiny point of light caught in the gold and in this way watched it creep about a foot inside of the room by my bed and then stop and this time after it had rested for a moment it moved again with a jerk for about two inches then very quietly the door at the head of my bed closed and I heard the click of the door knob after which the key fell from the lock and clattered loudly on the floor I lay there shaking and gasping and wishing that even Amy were with me but Amy and I were not good friends at that time well that night I got up switched on my lights and picked up the bracelet I tried to be a sport and so I said hello glad to see you back but my voice wasn't the sort that should have gone with those words then I put the bracelet up and was just about to turn off the lights when I heard my door open perhaps an inch and close quickly and I turned in time to see a hand reach in to get the flashlight which lay on the table by my bed shakily I said who is that but no one answered and I went to the door and looked out but no one was in sight from down the hall I could hear Uncle Archie snoring and then Amy coughed nothing was the matter with them I closed my door and locked it although I did not see what good locks would be against a force of the sort I was meeting but it seemed safer every sound from the street rose to bother me and make me think that there was something outside the door every creak in the furniture made me jump I sat huddled up in a big chair warmly wrapped in a blanket but shaking as if I had 209 chills all at once and every once in a while I would think I heard a footstep in the hall if this goes on I thought I do not see how I can stand it and at that time I decided to give up the bracelet and half piece for everything looks blacker at night and in those dark hours it is easy to give up and let yourself be beaten I have an hour after that perhaps I heard the beginning of day in the whir of motors and nothing ever sounded so good to me I wanted light most terribly and as all things that seem as far away as graduation or your first low-necked dress or your first train it eventually came and then I lay down and slept when I got up the next morning Aunt Penelope was nice to me for the first time since she thought I'd stolen Evelyn's violets that is I mean she felt like being kind before she had been elaborately polite and as just as she could possibly be but I felt that this was because she would be uncomfortable if she weren't not because her instincts pointed my way with gentleness and I was so glad that I had to swallow a great many times as fast as possible and couldn't say good morning to Uncle Archie who got in with his greeting first and huh at me twice before I could respond my dear child said Aunt Penelope are you ill I said I was all right I guessed but I hadn't slept very well come here she said I did she took my hands and hers and then laid a hand on my cheek hot she said suppose we stay home from school today I nodded and do a little petting of ourselves she went on I said I thought that would be nice Amy will take a note to Miss Gardner Aunt Penelope continued and will be causally fixed at home and have Dr. Vance come in and then she looked at me searchingly patted my hand and sent me to my place I didn't eat much I didn't feel like it and I was too busy thinking for I had decided with daylight that I would not give up Uncle Archie got up before we had finished as he always does and as he went by my place laid five dollars by it I did think that was dear of him I asked if I might be excused and followed him to the hall and here I thanked him he grunted and looked over my head and you can imagine my surprise when he said guess you haven't been very happy lately have you I replied that I supposed it was my fault if I had not been and then I don't know what made me for I had become used to having people think wrong of me I added I did not take those violets huh he grunted I don't care enough for them I went on I prefer daisies to orchids just as I prefer fishing to te dansons fishing said Uncle Archie and he stared down at the surface of the hall table which shines highly where it isn't covered with a lovely piece of brocade I used to fish he said but my soul that was a long time ago and he sighed I got the impression that he liked it lots and I think it seemed to him as if it had happened a long time past in his life and that he had grown away from it in spirit too and somehow couldn't go back I felt very sorry for him when I went back to the dining room I found Evelyn just trailing in wearing a negligee and looking pretty but tired she was fretful about a frock that had not come when she expected it and sat toying with her breakfast and complaining about everything and as always when she began this Amy started to say that she had nothing to wear and that her clothes were the worst looking in school and that she was ashamed to go and then she began to cry I was disgusted and I thought Evelyn ought to be ashamed to start it for bad temper is just as catching as measles or mumps and anyone who gives it to the public should be punished in some way Aunt looked tired what is the matter with you? she asked I never sit down that you and Amy don't ask for something and I'm sure I don't see where you got that habit I almost smiled at that then she looked at a little tiny diamond trimmed wristwatch she wears spoke sharply to Amy of the time added a word about her own engagements and both she and Amy left Evelyn and I who had not finished eating were alone and I did an awful thing but it was a satisfaction I told Evelyn just what I thought of her she started it what is the matter with people? she said sometimes they're simply on edge here I come in make a calm statement about kneading frogs and Amy begins to cry anyone can see that I need more than a child of her age does people are all pigs I said and want more than they have and more and more and more and that is the reason you're so unhappy you started the bad temper I continued it really was interesting for she had let her mouth open in astonishment and astonishment evidently relaxed the spring for it stayed so and then you wonder what made it any girl like Amy looks up to an older sister and when the older sister complains the entire time why she does too and that's the reason I stated with entire frankness that you're going to miss happiness you think frogs and having things makes it well well things and frogs don't responsibility and love and giving make a return and they only look here I paused for a moment and then went on Amy adores you she patterns herself over you therefore she is beginning to be cross to aunt and never to say a decent thing at home and to complain all the time that's what she sees in you Evelyn stood up and I hurried on before she could break in she will miss real love as you will because real love hasn't enough money for motors and frogs and all she wants and I think real love is lucky for all he would get would be a request for more money complaints and no consideration look at uncle Archie I added and I went on at length about his caring for fishing and never doing it and how he never sat down to a meal without a request of some sort from one of them for money that whole business has soured this family I said and I am glad you are not going to let it sour another since money is evidently most important to you then I left Evelyn had plenty of time to speak but she didn't and what is more she didn't speak about it later or tell Aunt Penelope of what I had done I know it was frightful of me but as I said it was a satisfaction for I had come in the library one afternoon hunting a book and found Evelyn and Mr. Apthorpe sitting there before a fire the heavy rugs muffled my footsteps and before I could speak and let them know I was there I heard 4,000 oh Herbert I don't see how we could I love you but how could we manage on that and he hadn't come to call since so I knew how it ended that was what made me so mad to see her throw away that chance for it was a big one if she did care because of greed several weeks went by after that and everyone but Evelyn was nicer to me she wasn't unpleasant but she didn't notice me the doctor said I was a little nervously upset and that commanded Amy's respect and made the girls in school splendid to me hardly a day went by that I didn't get gum drops or fringe pastry or have someone offer to let me wear their violets for a half hour I like that and more for the spirit than for the benefits which I received from it Mr. Kempwood was splendid to me all that time and took me for lots of nice drives and to the theaters several times we became better and better friends and he began to seem less old and more S.K. a chum one night he sent a servant up to ask if I cared to go walking with him before dinner I was in the dining room helping Ito serve aunt's friends who had been playing auction and were ready to be teed up when I hunted the man to give him my answer I couldn't find him until looking down the hall which leads toward the sleeping rooms I saw him step from my room I beg pardon he said as he reached me but I heard a window go up in that room and then a heavy tool drop it sounded like a sneak thief and I went to see the window was open miss and there is a bit of wood broken from the sill I beg pardon if I did wrong but there seemed to be no one about but the party of ladies and I thought immediate action necessary I said it was all right and thanked him and I found something he had not seen and that was that the lock of the window was broken someone had been there and with intent fixed that window so it could be opened it was one which led out on the little iron-grilled balcony that was the night I set the trap if I recall correctly it was the night before Thanksgiving but that doesn't matter what does matter was that five people wore bandages on their right hands the next day so how could I tell who had found the trap nothing seemed to work out as I hoped it would everything only made more confusion and I felt Madame Jumel smile end of chapter 15