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CHAPTER V
All had been done that could be done。 Mrs。 Barnet was in her own
house under medical hands； but the result was still uncertain。
Barnet had acted as if devotion to his wife were the dominant
passion of his existence。 There had been much to decidewhether to
attempt restoration of the apparently lifeless body as it lay on the
shorewhether to carry her to the Harbour Innwhether to drive
with her at once to his own house。 The first course； with no
skilled help or appliances near at hand； had seemed hopeless。 The
second course would have occupied nearly as much time as a drive to
the town； owing to the intervening ridges of shingle； and the
necessity of crossing the harbour by boat to get to the house； added
to which much time must have elapsed before a doctor could have
arrived down there。 By bringing her home in the carriage some
precious moments had slipped by； but she had been laid in her own
bed in seven minutes； a doctor called to her side； and every
possible restorative brought to bear upon her。
At what a tearing pace he had driven up that road； through the
yellow evening sunlight； the shadows flapping irksomely into his
eyes as each wayside object rushed past between him and the west！
Tired workmen with their baskets at their backs had turned on their
homeward journey to wonder at his speed。 Halfway between the shore
and Port…Bredy town he had met Charlson； who had been the first
surgeon to hear of the accident。 He was accompanied by his
assistant in a gig。 Barnet had sent on the latter to the coast in
case that Downe's poor wife should by that time have been reclaimed
from the waves； and had brought Charlson back with him to the house。
Barnet's presence was not needed here； and he felt it to be his next
duty to set off at once and find Downe； that no other than himself
might break the news to him。
He was quite sure that no chance had been lost for Mrs。 Downe by his
leaving the shore。 By the time that Mrs。 Barnet had been laid in
the carriage； a much larger group had assembled to lend assistance
in finding her friend； rendering his own help superfluous。 But the
duty of breaking the news was made doubly painful by the
circumstance that the catastrophe which had befallen Mrs。 Downe was
solely the result of her own and her husband's loving…kindness
towards himself。
He found Downe in his office。 When the solicitor comprehended the
intelligence he turned pale； stood up； and remained for a moment
perfectly still； as if bereft of his faculties； then his shoulders
heaved； he pulled out his handkerchief and began to cry like a
child。 His sobs might have been heard in the next room。 He seemed
to have no idea of going to the shore； or of doing anything； but
when Barnet took him gently by the hand and proposed to start at
once； he quietly acquiesced； neither uttering any further word nor
making any effort to repress his tears。
Barnet accompanied him to the shore； where； finding that no trace
had as yet been seen of Mrs。 Downe； and that his stay would be of no
avail； he left Downe with his friends and the young doctor； and once
more hastened back to his own house。
At the door he met Charlson。 'Well！' Barnet said。
'I have just come down；' said the doctor； 'we have done everything；
but without result。 I sympathize with you in your bereavement。'
Barnet did not much appreciate Charlson's sympathy； which sounded to
his ears as something of a mockery from the lips of a man who knew
what Charlson knew about their domestic relations。 Indeed there
seemed an odd spark in Charlson's full black eye as he said the
words； but that might have been imaginary。
'And； Mr。 Barnet；' Charlson resumed； 'that little matter between us…
…I hope to settle it finally in three weeks at least。'
'Never mind that now；' said Barnet abruptly。 He directed the
surgeon to go to the harbour in case his services might even now be
necessary there： and himself entered the house。
The servants were coming from his wife's chamber； looking helplessly
at each other and at him。 He passed them by and entered the room；
where he stood mutely regarding the bed for a few minutes； after
which he walked into his own dressing…room adjoining； and there
paced up and down。 In a minute or two he noticed what a strange and
total silence had come over the upper part of the house； his own
movements； muffled as they were by the carpet； seemed noisy； and his
thoughts to disturb the air like articulate utterances。 His eye
glanced through the window。 Far down the road to the harbour a roof
detained his gaze： out of it rose a red chimney； and out of the red
chimney a curl of smoke； as from a fire newly kindled。 He had often
seen such a sight before。 In that house lived Lucy Savile； and the
smoke was from the fire which was regularly lighted at this time to
make her tea。
After that he went back to the bedroom； and stood there some time
regarding his wife's silent form。 She was a woman some years older
than himself； but had not by any means overpassed the maturity of
good looks and vigour。 Her passionate features； well…defined； firm；
and statuesque in life； were doubly so now： her mouth and brow；
beneath her purplish black hair； showed only too clearly that the
turbulency of character which had made a bear…garden of his house
had been no temporary phase of her existence。 While he reflected；
he suddenly said to himself； I wonder if all has been done？
The thought was led up to by his having fancied that his wife's
features lacked in its complete form the expression which he had
been accustomed to associate with the faces of those whose spirits
have fled for ever。 The effacement of life was not so marked but
that； entering uninformed； he might have supposed her sleeping。 Her
complexion was that seen in the numerous faded portraits by Sir
Joshua Reynolds； it was pallid in comparison with life； but there
was visible on a close inspection the remnant of what had once been
a flush； the keeping between the cheeks and the hollows of the face
being thus preserved； although positive colour was gone。 Long
orange rays of evening sun stole in through chinks in the blind；
striking on the large mirror； and being thence reflected upon the
crimson hangings and woodwork of the heavy bedstead； so that the
general tone of light was remarkably warm； and it was probable that
something might be due to this circumstance。 Still the fact
impressed him as strange。 Charlson had been gone more than a
quarter of an hour： could it be possible that he had left too soon；
and that his attempts to restore her had operated so sluggishly as
only now to have made themselves felt？ Barnet laid his hand upon
her chest； and fancied that ever and anon a faint flutter of
palpitation； gentle as that of a butterfly's wing； disturbed the
stillness thereceasing for a time； then struggling to go on； then
breaking down in weakness and ceasing again。
Barnet's mother had been an active practitioner of the healing art
among her poorer neighbours； and her inspirations had all been
derived from an octavo volume of Domestic Medicine； which at this
moment was lying； as it had lain for many years； on a shelf in
Barnet's dressing…room。 He hastily fetched it； and there read under
the head 'Drowning：'…
'Exertions for the recovery of any person who has not been immersed
for a longer period than half…an…hour should be continued for at
least four hours； as there have been many cases in which returning
life has made itself visible even after a longer interval。
'Should； however； a weak action of any of the organs show itself
when the case seems almost hopeless； our efforts must be redoubled；
the feeble spark in this case requires to be solicited； it will
certainly disappear under a relaxation of labour。'
Barnet looked at his watch； it was now barely two hours and a half
from the time when he had first heard of the accident。 He threw
aside the book and turned quickly to reach a stimulant which had
previously been used。 Pulling up the blind for more light； his eye
glanced out of the window。 There he saw that red chimney still
smoking cheerily； and that ro