And he said , `` I will not . '' Then she turned herself about and struck at him with the dagger -- and never saw I such a face as was hers at the moment . He fell heavily , yet held her even in death , so that she had to wrench herself free , with a shriek that rings yet in my ears on a night when the wind wails over the rainy moors . She rushed past me unheeding , and fled down the hall like a hunted creature , and I heard the heavy door clang hollowly behind her . As for me , I stood there looking at the dead man , for I could neither move nor speak and was like to have died of horror . And presently I knew nothing , nor did I come to my recollection for many a day , when I lay abed , sick of a fever and more like to die than live . So that when at last I came out from the shadow of death , my Uncle Hugh had been long cold in his grave , and the hue and cry for his guilty wife was well nigh over , since naught had been seen or heard of her since she fled the country with her foreign lover . When I came rightly to my remembrance , they questioned me as to what I had seen and heard in the Red Room . And I told them as best I could , though much aggrieved that to my questions they would answer nothing save to bid me to stay still and think not of the matter . Then my mother , sorely vexed over my adventures -- which in truth were but sorry ones for a child -- took me home . Nor would she let me keep Alicia 's chain , but made away with it , how I knew not and little cared , for the sight of it was loathsome to me . It was many years ere I went again to Montressor Place , and I never saw the Red Room more , for Mrs. Montressor had the old wing torn down , deeming its sorrowful memories dark heritage enough for the next Montressor . So , Grandchild , the sad tale is ended , and you will not see the Red Room when you go next month to Montressor Place . The swallows still build under the eaves , though -- I know not if you will understand their speech as I did . The Setness of Theodosia When Theodosia Ford married Wesley Brooke after a courtship of three years , everybody concerned was satisfied . There was nothing particularly romantic in either the courtship or marriage . Wesley was a steady , well-meaning , rather slow fellow , comfortably off . He was not at all handsome . But Theodosia was a very pretty girl with the milky colouring of an auburn blonde and large china-blue eyes . She looked mild and Madonna-like and was known to be sweet-tempered .
Wesley 's older brother , Irving Brooke , had married a woman who kept him in hot water all the time , so Heatherton folks said , but they thought there was no fear of that XXXXX Wesley and Theodosia .
after at behind of on over past since to with