She began to shiver. "I shall never get away from him," she murmured.
"Listen, Felicity, he's dead. He can't touch you now. That's all over. We're starting again."
She shook her head; her teeth began to chatter and there was a blankness in her eyes. I realized she was not listening to me.
I was horrified and bewildered and uncertain what to do.
My first thoughts had been that she had had a nightmare which, although it left unpleasant effects, could be dispersed with the coming of daylight. It was more than that. She just lay there inert and when I spoke to her she did not seem to hear.
I grew more and more worried. I was realizing that I had been simplifying matters when I thought I could just take her away from the scene of horror and she would forget. She had gone through several ordeals, culminating in the violent death of her husband. I could not expect her to recover from that merely by removing her from the place where she had endured her misery.
I immediately thought of Milton. I needed help and he was the one to give it.
I went downstairs and spoke to the quadroon at the desk.
I said: "My friend is ill. I am very anxious about her. Could a message be sent to Mr. Harrington?"
"But certainly. I will send someone immediately."
"Thank you very much."
She summoned one of the men and he set off without delay.
"The poor lady is sick," said the quadroon. "She seems not very strong."
"Yes," I agreed. "She has had rather a bad time."
"The doctor will soon make her well."
The dark eyes surveyed me with some curiosity. I supposed it was partly Milton Harrington's interest which made us special objects of curiosity. Moreover if they knew of William Granville's sudden death they would know that Felicity was his widow. They would not, therefore, be very surprised to find that her health had suffered.
I went back to Felicity. She was still lying there staring into nothing.
I sat down by her bed and took her hand. I said: "It's all right, Felicity. I'm here to take care of you."
She did not speak but the pressure of her fingers told me that she was reassured.
It was not long before Milton arrived.
He came straight up to my room. I heard his approach and went out to meet him.
"It's Felicity," I said. "She's acting rather strangely. She doesn't seem to be aware—She had a bad night... dreams... nightmares... But it is more than that."
"Shall I see her?" he asked.
She looked up fearfully when he came in.
I said: "It's all right. It's Mr. Harrington. He's come to help."
She clenched her teeth together: "He didn't die ..." she whispered. "He's here..."
I looked at Milton.
"I'll send for Dr. Norton," he said. "I know him well. I'll explain."
"Oh, thank you."
He went out of the room. Felicity just lay there as though unaware of anything that was going on.
I heard him coming back and I went out into the corridor to meet him.
"She's suffering from delayed shock," he said. "It was a terrible ordeal she went through. It's beginning to show now what an effect it has had on her."
"I thought she was getting on so well."
"She left Australia, she came here ... the effort all that entailed could have sustained her. Now that she has arrived it's quiet and the accumulated effect of all that tension begins to show. I daresay all she needs is rest and careful treatment. Norton is a good fellow. He's been out here some years. He came out for a bit of experience five years ago ... and stayed. Hell do the best possible for her."
"I'm very worried about her."
He put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm here. You know you can trust me to look after you .,. both."
I turned away. I felt too moved to speak. I was desperately worried about Felicity.
The doctor arrived and examined her. He gave her something to make her sleep. Milton and I. with the doctor, went downstairs and sat at one of the tables outside the hotel to talk.
Dr. Norton said: "She's in a highly nervous state. We'll have to be careful. She has had some terrible experience."
"Yes." I said. "Her husband died violently and she was with him when it happened."
"The Granville case." explained Milton.
"Oh. I see. That explains a great deal. Poor lady, she seems to be of a rather nervous disposition. It must have been a great grief as well as a shock."
"It was not a happy marriage." I said. "Mrs. Granville could not fit into the life to which she had gone. She had lived quietly in England and had no idea to what she was going."
"I see. We will restore her to health but it may take time. I shall keep her sedated for a few days. After that we will see that she does not have too much excitement. Your room is next to hers. Good. I think she is going to rely on you a great deal."
"I shall be there when she wants me."
"Quiet and rest... and then she should be all right."
"Thank you." I said.
"I've given her something to quieten her. It will make her sleep. I'll send some pills to the hotel at once, and I'll look in tomorrow to see how she is. I think you will find rest is what she needs more than anything. That will restore her peace of mind. You should take charge of the pills I shall send. One each night before retiring. Two might be injurious—more than that fatal. So you should take care of them. Make sure that she cannot get at them. She appears to have a lack of interest in anything at the moment. Give her one pill tonight and that should ensure a good night's rest."
When the doctor left I went in to Felicity. She was lying still, her eyes closed, so I left her and went downstairs. Milton was still there.
"Well?" he asked.
"She's quiet. But I'm terribly worried about her. She looked so wild."
"She looked to me as though she could break down completely. But don't worry. Norton knows what he is about. We re lucky to have him on the island. He keeps talking about going home and we keep persuading him to stay. He's doing an excellent job here. Even the natives regard him as a very special witch doctor with extraordinary powers."
"Thank you for coming."
"My dear Annalice, I am always at your service."
I smiled at him. He seemed different, tender, gentle almost. I warmed towards him—not with that heady excitement which I had felt on some occasions but with something deeper.
"Sit down for a moment," he said. "You must not let this make you ill, you know. You have to be the strong woman, the comforter, the healer, the good nurse. It would be an excellent idea if you moved up to my place."
"I must stay here."
"You would be more comfortable there ... and so would Felicity."
"No. I must be here."
"You say that with such finality that I know you are determined. You are an obstinate woman."
"I suppose I am and I'm sorry to be so ungracious."
"We should allow ourselves to be frank. I know why you won't come. You want to pursue your enquiries, for one thing, and the other is that it might not be comme il faut. Conventions are not so rigid here as they are in Merrie England. You think I am not to be trusted, and I'll tell you a secret as we are being frank. I'm not."
I laughed and I realized it was the first time I had done so since I had gone into Felicity's room and found her lying there lost and bewildered.
"Sit down here," he said. "Watch the harbour ... its very bustle will make you feel sleepy."
"Yes," I agreed. "It has that effect. I am sorry for calling you in. I could have sent for the doctor. I must have called you away from your work."
"It would always be a pleasure to be called by you."
I shrugged the remark aside. I felt this was no time for light flirtation.