Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Asamatteroffact,whenpatientscamelateitwasquiteusualforhimtolettheminandoutbythesurgeryentrance,forthemaidandthehousekeeperwereinthehabitofretiringearly.

           OnthisparticularnightMarthaWoodswentintothedoctor’sstudyathalf-pastnine,andfoundhimwritingathisdesk.Shebadehimgoodnight,sentthemaidtobed,andthenoccupiedherselfuntilaquartertoeleveninhouseholdmatters.Itwasstrikingelevenuponthehallclockwhenshewenttoherownroom.Shehadbeenthereaboutaquarterofanhourortwentyminuteswhensheheardacryorcall,whichappearedtocomefromwithinthehouse.Shewaitedsometime,butitwasnotrepeated.Muchalarmed,forthesoundwasloudandurgent,sheputonadressing-gown,andranatthetopofherspeedtothedoctor’sstudy.

           "Who’sthere?"criedavoice,asshetappedatthedoor.

           "Iamhere,sir—Mrs.Woods."

           "Ibegthatyouwillleavemeinpeace.Gobacktoyourroomthisinstant!"criedthevoice,whichwas,tothebestofherbelief,thatofhermaster.Thetonewassoharshandsounlikehermaster’susualmanner,thatshewassurprisedandhurt.

           "IthoughtIheardyoucalling,sir,"sheexplained,butnoanswerwasgiventoher.Mrs.Woodslookedattheclockasshereturnedtoherroom,anditwasthenhalf-pasteleven.

           Atsomeperiodbetweenelevenandtwelve(shecouldnotbepositiveastotheexacthour)apatientcalleduponthedoctorandwasunabletogetanyreplyfromhim.ThislatevisitorwasMrs.Madding,thewifeofthevillagegrocer,whowasdangerouslyilloftyphoidfever.Dr.