She said nothing , and lay motionless for several minutes evidently struggling with some strong impulse . `` He is ill and anxious , but hides it from me ; I have a right to know , and he 'll forgive me when I prove that it does no harm . '' As she spoke to herself she rose , glided noiselessly through the hall , entered a small closet built in the thickness of the wall , and , bending to the keyhole of a narrow door , listened with a half-smile on her lips at the trespass she was committing . A murmur of voices met her ear . Her husband spoke oftenest , and suddenly some word of his dashed the smile from her face as if with a blow . She started , shrank , and shivered , bending lower with set teeth , white cheeks , and panic-stricken heart . Paler and paler grew her lips , wilder and wilder her eyes , fainter and fainter her breath , till , with a long sigh , a vain effort to save herself , she sank prone upon the threshold of the door , as if struck down by death . `` Mercy on us , my lady , are you ill ? '' cried Hester , the maid , as her mistress glided into the room looking like a ghost , half an hour later . `` I am faint and cold . Help me to my bed , but do not disturb Sir Richard . '' A shiver crept over her as she spoke , and , casting a wild , woeful look about her , she laid her head upon the pillow like one who never cared to lift it up again . Hester , a sharp-eyed , middle-aged woman , watched the pale creature for a moment , then left the room muttering , `` Something is wrong , and Sir Richard must know it . That black-bearded man came for no good , I 'll warrant . '' At the door of the library she paused . No sound of voices came from within ; a stifled groan was all she heard ; and without waiting to knock she went in , fearing she knew not what . Sir Richard sat at his writing table pen in hand , but his face was hidden on his arm , and his whole attitude betrayed the presence of some overwhelming despair . `` Please , sir , my lady is ill . Shall I send for anyone ? '' No answer .
Hester repeated her words , but Sir XXXXX never stirred .
Hester Richard left minutes oftenest right sigh trespass wall wilder