’er if I let the hold woman go down.  So I just stood in ’er way, and put my harms across the stairs so”—­stretching his arms out.  “My! but ’ow she did fire up!  She stood almost a minute, and then sprung on me as if she was a tiger.  But I was the strongest, and ’olding ’er in my harms like as I would a mad kitten, I carried ’er hup to ’er room, put ’er hin, and shut the door.  My young lady saw it hall, for she followed right hup after me.”

He looked towards Blanche.

“Just as it occurred,” she said, in a low, sweet fluttering voice.

“I heard the strife,” said her mother, “and ran up to see what was the matter.  I reached the door of Mrs. Allen’s room just as Jackson thrust her in.  He did not use any more violence than was needed in a case of such sudden emergency.  He is strong, and held her so tightly that she could not even struggle.  One wild, fierce scream rent the air, as he shut the door, and then all was silent as death.  I went in to her instantly.  She was on the floor in a convulsion.  You were sent for immediately; but it was too late for human intervention.  Jackson, you can go.”

The man bowed with an air of deferential respect, and retired.

“Now, sir,” she added, turning to me, “you have the facts as they occurred.  I have no wish to give them publicity, for they are family matters, and these are always in their degree, sacred.  If, however, you think it your duty as a physician, to make the matter one of official investigation, I can have nothing to say.”

I thought for some minutes before answering.  The story, as related by the servant, I fully credited.

“Let me see the body again,” said I, coming at length to a conclusion.

We went up stairs, all three together; but only two of us entered the chamber of death.  As we neared the door, Blanche caught at her mother’s arm, and I heard her say, in a whisper: 

“Dear mamma! spare me that sight again.  It is too horrible!”

“The presence of your daughter is not needed,” said I, interposing.  “Let her retire to her own room.”

“Thank you!” There was a grateful expression in her voice, as she uttered these brief words, and then went back, while we passed in to the apartment where the dead woman was still lying.

As I looked upon her face again, it seemed even more ghastly than before; and I could hardly repress a shudder.  My companion held a lamp; while I made as careful an examination as was possible under the circumstances.  I did not expect to find any marks of violence, though I searched for them about her head, neck, and chest.  But, under the circumstances, I felt it to be my duty to know, from actual search, that no such signs existed.  In every aspect presented by the corpse, there was a corroboration of the story related by the serving man.  It was plain, that in a fit of half insane, uncontrollable passion, the nice adjustment of physical forces had been lost.