Chapter 19

           IfanyevidencehadbeenwantedofhowabsolutelyoneandallofushadcometobelieveinthespiritualexistenceoftheEgyptianQueen,itwouldhavebeenfoundinthechangewhichinafewminuteshadbeeneffectedinusbythestatementofvoluntarynegationmade,weallbelieved,throughMargaret.Despitethecomingofthefearfulordeal,thesenseofwhichitwasimpossibletoforget,welookedandactedasthoughagreatreliefhadcometous.WehadindeedlivedinsuchastateofterrorismduringthedayswhenMr.Trelawnywaslyinginatrancethatthefeelinghadbittendeeplyintous.Nooneknowstillhehasexperiencedit,whatitistobeinconstantdreadofsomeunknowndangerwhichmaycomeatanytimeandinanyform.

           Thechangewasmanifestedindifferentways,accordingtoeachnature.Margaretwassad.DoctorWinchesterwasinhighspirits,andkeenlyobservant;theprocessofthoughtwhichhadservedasanantidotetofear,beingnowrelievedfromthisduty,addedtohisintellectualenthusiasm.Mr.Corbeckseemedtobeinaretrospectiveratherthanaspeculativemood.Iwasmyselfratherinclinedtobegay;therelieffromcertainanxietyregardingMargaretwassufficientformeforthetime.

           AstoMr.Trelawnyheseemedlesschangedthanany.Perhapsthiswasonlynatural,ashehadhadinhismindtheintentionforsomanyyearsofdoingthatinwhichweweretonightengaged,thatanyeventconnectedwithitcouldonlyseemtohimasanepisode,asteptotheend.