The Grey Room | Page 6

father, who personally entertained no
dislike or dread of it, raised not the least objection to the strong -
minded old lady's proposal. She retired, and was found dead on
Christmas morning. She had not gone to bed, but was just about to do
so, apparently, when she had fallen down and died. She was
eighty-eight, had undergone a lengthy coach journey from Exeter, and
had eaten a remarkably good dinner before going to bed. Her maid was
not suspected, and the doctor held her end in no way unusual. It was
certainly never associated with anything but natural causes. Indeed,
only events of much later date served to remind me of the matter. Then
one remembered the spoiled Christmas festivities and the callous and
selfish anger of myself and various other young people that our
rejoicings should be spoiled and Christmas shorn of all its usual
delights.
"But twelve years ago Mary fell ill of pneumonia - dangerously - and a

nurse had to be summoned in haste, since her own faithful attendant,
Jane Bond, who is still with us, could not attend her both day and night.
A telegram to the Nurses' Institute brought Mrs. Gilbert Forrester -
'Nurse Forrester,' as she preferred to be called. She was a little bit of a
thing, but most attractive and capable. She had been a nurse before she
married a young medical man, and upon his unfortunate death she
returned to her profession. She desired her bedroom to be as near the
patient as possible, and objected, when she found it arranged at the
other end of the corridor. 'Why not the next room?' she inquired; and I
had to tell her that the next room suffered from a bad name and was not
used. 'A bad name - is it unwholesome?' she asked; and I explained that
traditions credited it with a sinister influence. 'In fact,' I said, 'it is
supposed to be haunted. Not,' I added, 'that anything has ever been seen,
or heard in my lifetime; but nervous people do not like that sort of
room, and I should never take the responsibility of putting anybody into
it without telling them.' She laughed. 'I'm not in the least afraid of
ghosts, Sir Walter,' she said, 'and that must obviously be my room, if
you please. It is necessary I shonld be as near my patient as possible, so
that I can be called at once if her own nurse is anxious when I am not
on duty.'
"Well, we saw, of course, that she was perfectly right. She was a
fearless little woman, and chaffed Masters and the maids while they
lighted a fire and made the room comfortable. As a matter of fact, it is
an exceedingly pleasant room in every respect. Yet I hesitated, and
could not say that I was easy about it. I felt conscious of a discomfort
which even her indifference did not entirely banish. I attributed it to my
acute anxiety over Mary - also to a shadow of - what? It may have been
irritation at Nurse Forrester's unconcealed contempt for my superstition.
The Grey Room is large and commodious with a rather fine oriel
window above our eastern porch. She was delighted, and rated me very
amusingly for my doubts. 'I hope you'll never call such a lovely room
haunted again after I have gone,' said she.
"Mary took to her, and really seemed easier after she had been in the
sick-room an hour. She loved young people, and had an art to win them.
She was also a most accomplished and quick-witted nurse. There

seemed to be quite a touch of genius about her. Her voice was
melodious and her touch gentle. I could appreciate her skill, for I was
never far from my daughter's side during that anxious day. Mrs.
Forrester came at the critical hours, but declared herself very sanguine
from the first.
"Night fell; the child was sleeping and Jane Bond arrived to relieve the
other about ten o'clock. Then the lady retired, directed that she should
be called at seven o'clock, or at any moment sooner, if Jane wanted her.
I sat with Jane I remember until two, and then turned in myself. Before
I did so, Mary drank some milk and seemed to be holding her strength
well. I was worn out, and despite my anxiety fell into deep sleep, and
did not wake until my man called me half an hour earlier than usual.
What he told me brought me quickly to my senses and out of bed.
Nurse Forrester had been called at seven o'clock, but had not responded.
Nor could the maid open the door, for it was locked. A quarter of an
hour later the housekeeper and Jane Bond had loudly