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A strangled cry from the bed startled me A fresh access of pain seized the unfortunate old lady The convulsions were of a violence terrible to behold Everything was confusion We thronged round her, powerless to help or alleviate A final convulsion lifted her from the bed, until she appeared to rest upon her head and her heels, with her body arched in an extraordinary manner In vain Mary and John tried to adain the body arched itself in that peculiar fashion
At that moment, Dr Bauerstein pushed his way authoritatively into the rooure on the bed, and, at the saled voice, her eyes fixed on the doctor: "Alfred--Alfred----" Then she fell back motionless on the pillows
With a stride, the doctor reached the bed, and seizing her ar what I knew to be artificial respiration He issued a few short sharp orders to the servants An imperious wave of his hand drove us all to the door We watched hih I think we all knew in our hearts that it was too late, and that nothing could be done now I could see by the expression on his face that he himself had little hope
Finally he abandoned his task, shaking his head gravely At that lethorp's own doctor, a portly, fussy littlein
In a feords Dr Bauerstein explained how he had happened to be passing the lodge gates as the car came out, and had run up to the house as fast as he could, whilst the car went on to fetch Dr Wilkins With a faint gesture of the hand, he indicated the figure on the bed
"Ve--ry sad Ve--ry sad," murmured Dr Wilkins "Poor dear lady Always did far too ainst'Take it easy,' I said to her, 'Take--it--easy' But no--her zeal for good works was too great Nature rebelled Na--ture-- re--belled"
Dr Bauerstein, I noticed, atching the local doctor narrowly He still kept his eyes fixed on him as he spoke
"The convulsions were of a peculiar violence, Dr Wilkins I am sorry you were not here in time to witness them They were quite--tetanic in character"
"Ah!" said Dr Wilkins wisely
"I should like to speak to you in private," said Dr Bauerstein He turned to John "You do not object?"