I've been treating her for a nervous condition.
It's possible, I think, that the shock of receiving such a letter, couched in those terms, may have induced such a state of panic and despondency that she may have decided to take her life.
She may have worked herself up to feel that her husband might not believe her if she denied the story, and the general shame and disgust might have worked upon her so powerfully as to unbalance her judgement temporarily."
"Suicide while of unsound mind," said Joanna.
"Exactly.
I shall be quite justified, I think, in putting forward that point of view at the inquest."
Joanna and I went on into the house.
The front door was open and it seemed easier than ringing the bell, especially as we heard Elsie Holland's voice inside.
She was talking to Mr. Symmington who, huddled in a chair, was looking completely dazed.
"No, but really, Mr. Symmington, you must take something.
You haven't had any breakfast, not what I call a proper breakfast, and nothing to eat last night, and what with the shock and all, you'll be getting ill yourself, and you'll need all your strength.
The doctor said so before he left."
Symmington said in a toneless voice, "You're very kind, Miss Holland, but -"
"A nice cup of hot tea," said Elsie Holland, thrusting the beverage on him firmly.
Personally I should have given the poor devil a stiff whisky-and-soda.
He looked as though he needed it.
However he accepted the tea, and looking up at Elsie Holland:
"I can't thank you for all you've done and are doing, Miss Holland.
You've been perfectly splendid."
The girl flushed and looked pleased.
"It's nice of you to say that, Mr. Symmington. You must let me do all I can to help.
Don't worry about the children - I'll see to them, and I've got the servants calmed down, and if there's anything I can do, letter-writing or telephoning, don't hesitate to ask me."
"You're very kind," Symmington said again.
Elsie Holland, turning, caught sight of us and came hurrying out into the hall.
"Isn't it terrible?" she said in a hushed whisper.
I thought, as I looked at her, that she was really a very nice girl.
Kind, competent, practical in an emergency.
Her magnificent blue eyes were just faintly rimmed with pink, showing that she had been soft-hearted enough to shed tears for her employer's death.
"Can we speak to you a minute?" asked Joanna.
"We don't want to disturb Mr. Symmington."
Elsie Holland nodded comprehendingly and led the way into the dining room on the other side of the hall.
"It's been awful for him," she said.
"Such a shock.
Who ever would have thought a thing like this could happen?
But of course, I do realize now that she had been queer for some time.
Awfully nervous and weepy.
I thought it was her health, though Dr. Griffith always said there was nothing really wrong with her.
But she was snappy and irritable and some days you wouldn't know just how to take her."
"What we really came for," said Joanna, "was to know whether we could have Megan for a few days - that is, if she'd like to come."
Elsie Holland looked rather surprised.
"Megan?" she said doubtfully.
"I don't know, I'm sure.
I mean, it's ever so kind of you, but she's such a queer girl.
One never knows what she's going to say or feel about things."
Joanna said rather vaguely, "We thought it might be a help, perhaps."
"Oh, well, as far as that goes, it would.
I mean, I've got the boys to look after (they're with cook just now) and poor Mr. Symmington - he really needs looking after as much as anyone, and such a lot to do and see to.
I really haven't had time to say much to Megan.
I think she's upstairs in the old nursery at the top of the house.
She seems to want to get away from everyone.