Latest / The Scorpion by Anna Elisabet Weirauch. / 06 - The Scorpion.

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06 - The Scorpion. · The Scorpion by Anna Elisabet Weirauch.

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: You know, said Olga the next time they met. I
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: have an idea. Don't you think I could give instruction
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: in languages, Myra? Five lessons every day at two marks
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: a lesson makes ten marks, and one can certainly live
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: on that if one manages very carefully. A wonderful idea,
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: said Myra angrily. In the first place I see you
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: living on ten marks a day, and in the second
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: place I should never see you at all anymore. What
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: on earth are you complaining about? said Olga laughing. You
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: spend every day God gives us from morning till noon
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: and from noon till night with me. If it's too much,
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: said Myra soberly and somewhat hurt, all you have to
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: do is say so. Never fear, Olga consoled her. I
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: can take care of myself. If I want to be
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: rid of anybody, I am perfectly explicit. Thank heaven. If
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: only I can depend on that. But it is I
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: who have the idea. We'll combine pleasure with profit. You
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: give me five hours' instruction in foreign languages, and I
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: will have my father pay you for it, at his
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: own express request. But it did not go quite as
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: smoothly as Myra had anticipated. Aunt Emily herself went to
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: look for language teachers and unearthed a pair of very
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: dignified elderly ladies. A 64-year-old professor was, in her opinion,
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: questionable because he was unmarried. She took Myra herself to
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: introduce her niece. As a result, Myra had the painful
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: task of declining their instruction. But at least, she succeeded
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: in getting her father to give the money for the
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: classes directly to her instead of sending a money order
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: or having the bank arrange it. Olga was very exact
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: with the lessons. She insisted on a conscientious punctuality and,
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: as a teacher, was strict and pedantic. Myra was a
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: zealous student in order to live up to her teacher's
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: good opinion. So far everything went as planned. Except that
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: Olga did not think to economize and live on the
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: money from the lessons. Peculiar happenings multiplied. One day Uncle
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: George bobbed up suddenly in the city. Myra had always
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: had a special predilection for Uncle George. He was really
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: the only one of her relatives whose stately and distinguished appearance,
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: definitely masculine manner and a certain matter-of-fact seriousness pleased her
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: and even compelled her respect. He greeted Myra in a
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: peculiar way, with a conscious affability that seemed to say,
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: I'm really quite innocent, there's no reason for you to
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: wonder why I am here or what it has to
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: do with you. Myra's delicate perceptive apparatus instantly registered suspicion.
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: Her suspicion was intensified when she heard the key grind
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: as all three, father, Aunt Emily and Uncle George, withdrew
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: into the study. So they were locking themselves in? What
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: might that mean? Did it concern the servants or her?
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: She had never taken any particular interest in family conferences,
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: but the cautious turning of that key aroused an uneasy
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: curiosity in her. She sauntered past the door several times,
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: but all she could hear was an indistinct murmuring. No
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: doubt about it, they were whispering. Myra longed to escape
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: the oppressive and unfriendly atmosphere of the house. After dinner,
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: during which only Uncle George had spoken, Extolling in loud
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: and well-rounded periods the beauties of the little city and
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: the virtues of its children, Myra finally ventured a question.
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: You are all going to sleep after dinner, aren't you?
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: Then may I spend an hour with my friend before tea?
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: A general silence followed. All three looked at one another.
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: Nobody looked at Myra and nobody answered. Her father cast
• 3:49
  Speaker 1: an uneasy glance that seemed to beseech Sucker, from one
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: to the other. Uncle George drummed on the table and
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: looked expectant. Aunt Emily cleared her throat and distorted the
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: corners of her tightly compressed mouth in a Swedish grimace
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: that was intended for a friendly smile. Nobody spoke. Aunt
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: Emily did not wish to obtrude herself. She withheld her answer,
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: waiting to see if either of the men would reply.
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: But they did not look as if they intended to
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: break the painful silence within the next few moments. They
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: had left it up to her. hence she must speak.
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: She drew herself up and made a face whose wrinkles
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: were intended to express profound sympathy and serious concern. But
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: to Myra it seemed as if those sharp little eyes
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: were flashing, as if that rigidly erect lean body was
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: trembling with malicious joy. I guess you will have to
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: omit that today for a change my dear child, she
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: said in a gentle tone, but her voice was as
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: sharp as a knife. We are expecting a visit this
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: afternoon which concerns you most particularly. Me? asked Myra and
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: glanced at her father. But Rudloff veiled his eyes and
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: endeavored to control a nervous twitching of his lips. He
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: did not answer. Yes, you, said Aunt Emily as affably
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: as if she were announcing a great pleasure to Myra.
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: At that moment Myra felt that danger was threatening her.
• 5:14
  Speaker 1: She felt as if she were caught in the fine
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: meshes of a net. which would be drawn over her
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: head the next moment by a slight twitch of Aunt
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: Emily's bony fingers. She felt as if all the doors
• 5:25
  Speaker 1: were locked and guarded, as if nothing could save her now,
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: but at this very moment, without hesitation, without a second thought,
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: to jump out the window and to run as long
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: as her breath lasted, to rush in mad flight through
• 5:38
  Speaker 1: the streets to Olga. She turned pale and started to run.
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: It was not even a start, it was only the
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: will to move that thrilled her muscles. but Uncle George
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: must have perceived it. Now no, Myra, he said in
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: a somewhat forced tone of kindness and assurance. Just keep cool,
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: my lass. Nobody's going to do anything to you. You
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: must simply have confidence in us and say to yourself
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: that everything that happens is happening, in the last analysis,
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: for your own good. You must try to help us
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: a little in our efforts, which are motivated wholly by
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: a regard for your welfare. and not make our task
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: more difficult by any childish spleen. Thus by a mutual
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: effort we will get over this period, and later on
• 6:23
  Speaker 1: you will be very grateful to us for having used
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: a loving coercion to put you on the right track.
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: You'll look back on this period as on a bad
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: dream of no significance for your later life. This solemn
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: pronouncement increased Myra's vague uneasiness to all but insane terror.
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: It was all so mysterious and incomprehensible. She knew that
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: Aunt Emily was only waiting for a question in order
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: to gush forth in a torrent of words. Therefore she
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: did not ask any. But what had happened? What was
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: about to happen? Out the window! Out the window! was
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: the only thing she could think of. But the moment
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: she heard the doorbell ring, she shrank within herself, for
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: she knew that it was too late. The maid came
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: slinking in, as if she were entering a sick chamber.
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: and handed Franz Rudloff a card. His hand trembled as
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: he took it from the little silver tray. He had
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: to support himself against the table in rising. His face
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: was distorted, drawn. Have you taken the professor to my room?
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: I will be there in a moment. Hastily he poured
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: himself a swallow of water. His stiff, starched cuff rattled
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: against the carafe. He went out, making a visible effort
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: not to stagger. and to hold himself upright. The three
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: who were left sat on in silence. But Myra could
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: not bear to remain at the table. When she rose,
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: Uncle George made a hasty gesture as if to detain her.
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: But she did not go to the door. She would
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: make no further effort to escape. She went to the
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: window and gazed through the drawn lace curtains down at
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: the street. Monotonous cries ascended of children at play. A
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: delivery truck drew up and stopped at the house opposite.
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: The driver's helper jumped out, unlocked the back, loaded himself
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: with parcels and closed the doors again with a sharp bang.
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: Every movement, every sound impressed itself with unusual distinctness on
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: Myra's brain. She was aware of nothing, nothing but the
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: sharp perception of commonplace things. The door opened behind her back.
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: She heard her father's restrained and rather hoarse voice saying, Emily,
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: will you be so kind as to come here a moment?
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: Then the scraping of a chair and the rustle of skirts.
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: Myra did not turn. The door closed again. Now she
• 8:45
  Speaker 1: was alone with Uncle George. Now she might have asked
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: him for some kind of explanation. Of these three individuals
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: he was by far the most sensible. Ah, but what
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: use was it? He too was a stranger to her,
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: an utter stranger. Mother, she thought as something like a
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: convulsive sob rose in her throat. Dear good mother, why
• 9:07
  Speaker 1: did you leave me alone, all alone in this world?
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: When the door next opened and her father appeared and
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: said nervously, Please come with me Myra, she experienced a
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: feeling almost of joy, as a man who has studied
• 9:20
  Speaker 1: well rejoices at an examination, or a brave man at
• 9:23
  Speaker 1: a battle. She walked with a perfectly firm step through
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: the room, smiling a superior rather disdainful smile. At her entrance,
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: a slight man with sharp features and piercing eyes rose
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: from her father's chair. In his well-trimmed pointed black beard
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: several premature white hairs were showing. As no one appeared
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: to be going to introduce him, he murmured his own
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: name with a slight bow, while casting at the others
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: a glance that resembled a command for instant withdrawal. Rudloff
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: was visibly relieved, but Aunt Emily hesitated and departed grudgingly.
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: Even at the door she cast back a long and
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: curious glance, but the professor did not utter a word,
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: did not make a gesture until she had closed the door.
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: Then he drew up a chair. Please be seated. Myra
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: sat down obediently. The man in front of her leaned
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: forward somewhat. And now, my child! he said in a soft,
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: almost ingratiating voice, tell me that you will trust me.
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: Myra drew herself up stiffly. I certainly shall not, Professor,
• 10:29
  Speaker 1: she said quietly. The man drew back a little. What
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: does that mean? he asked in surprise. It means, said
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: Myra while her heart throbbed as if it would burst,
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: that my aunt called you in and that I distrust
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: everything she does. Probably she intends to shut me up
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: in an insane asylum. and your function is to declare
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: me mentally deranged. She held a similar party for me
• 10:54
  Speaker 1: when I was quite a little girl. But if you
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: are a psychiatrist, you know that the feeling that one
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: is under observation is capable of inducing something resembling insanity,
• 11:04
  Speaker 1: even in the most normal of individuals. And you will
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: make allowance for that in my case. The physician smiled
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: a shrewd smile. I have not the slightest reason to
• 11:15
  Speaker 1: question your exceptional mental ability. On the contrary, nobody questions it.
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: And neither has anyone the slightest intention of shutting you
• 11:24
  Speaker 1: up in an insane asylum. I came here to talk
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: with you a little, because of certain scientific and human interests.
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: May I ask you a few questions? Certainly, said Myra.
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: I probably will answer your questions more exactly if you
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: will permit me to smoke a cigarette. Gladly, said the
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: professor obligingly. Myra took the cigarette case from the table
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: and offered him one. He accepted and while he scratched
• 11:50
  Speaker 1: his lighter and held the little flame for her he
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: asked in a casual tone, You are a confirmed smoker,
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: are you not? I got into the habit studying, she said.
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: It helps me concentrate. And as I can't rid myself
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: yet of the suspicion that you will construe some stupid
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: answer into feeble-mindedness. The professor laughed. I would have a
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: hard time doing that. However, you are right, one can
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: chat much more easily over a cigarette. But tell me now,
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: what was this affair you mentioned? What kind of wicked
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: designs did your estimable aunt have on you when you
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: were a little girl? Oh, said Myra. She called in
• 12:29
  Speaker 1: a children's psychiatrist because I took the silver from the sideboard. Aha,
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: said the professor with an interested and amused smile. Why
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: did you do that? Did you like silver? No, I
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: pawned it. Pawned it. The professor laughed aloud. How did
• 12:47
  Speaker 1: such an idea ever get into your child's head? It
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: was not my own, said Myra seriously. From the hazy
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: past the image of Frida rose clearly and distinctly. My
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: governess led me to do it. I was completely under
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: her influence, which was not a very good one. Ah,
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: said the professor with mild astonishment. Are you easily influenced?
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: You do not look it. Probably there is nothing on
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: earth that could make you do such a thing now.
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: The devil! said Myra in sudden terror. I forgot to
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: redeem that stupid silver. The professor was tremendously amused, but
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: he did not let her see it. What? he asked.
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: The silver you pawned ten years ago. It certainly must
• 13:33
  Speaker 1: be lost by now. No, said Myra frankly. That which
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: I just pawned. I clean forgot it. Don't worry about it,
• 13:42
  Speaker 1: said the professor amiably. It has already been redeemed. For
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: a moment Myra did not quite comprehend. How can that be?
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: Nobody knew about it. The ticket was found in your pocket. Found?
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: Myra sprang up. Found? That is to say, that that
• 14:01
  Speaker 1: shameless person has been going through my things again. Oh,
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: what a pity that I did not catch her at it.
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: I think I would have throttled her with my bare hands.
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: Please sit down, said the professor, not sharply, but so
• 14:15
  Speaker 1: imperatively that Myra obeyed. If by that person you mean
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: your aunt, I should urge her, as a man and
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: a physician, to supervise you more closely than is customary
• 14:25
  Speaker 1: among adult human beings. I am an adult human being,
• 14:30
  Speaker 1: said Myra angrily. You are a child, said the physician mildly,
• 14:34
  Speaker 1: a child that does not even suspect the danger it
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: is getting into. but who will be very grateful to
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: us all once it has grown up and learned to
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: understand from what we protected it. I believe you are mistaken,
• 14:47
  Speaker 1: said Myra in an icy voice. I am not in
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: any danger. But if I were, I can protect myself.
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: As long as you are not of age, you cannot
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: refuse our helping hand. Sounded kindly but quite definite. I
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: question whether you would find in yourself the necessary strength
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: to break with the friend who is at present influencing you.
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: The blood rushed suddenly to Myra's heart. She felt that
• 15:12
  Speaker 1: she had turned as white as snow. What do you
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: know about my friend? She asked bluntly. She felt as
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: if she could not breathe. The physician smiled a superior smile.
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: In any case, more than you. I doubt that. Myra
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: interrupted in a hard, disdainful tone. But his composure was
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: not to be ruffled. I know. He said imperturbably but firmly.
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: that you are under the influence of a woman who
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: can do you a great deal of harm. I understand
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: you quite well. You are a child. I will not
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: deny that the lady possesses intelligence and charm. You are
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: proud of this friendship and would be willing to sacrifice
• 15:53
  Speaker 1: anything for her. You would let this friendship start you
• 15:57
  Speaker 1: on a path of crime. Oh, bosh, said Myra. I
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: understand you to be contradicting me. But just let your
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: cool intelligence come into play for a moment and think logically.
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: You purloin silver from your parents' sideboard. You ask your
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: father for money for lessons and spend it on automobile
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: excursions with your friend, on champagne and tickets for the opera.
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: You pay your friend's dressmaker's bills with money that you
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: have come by in irregular ways. Yes, my child, don't
• 16:27
  Speaker 1: you see yourself what an abyss you are heading for?
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: How did they know all that? as if lit up
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: by a flash of lightning, the whole chain of events
• 16:36
  Speaker 1: was suddenly clear to Myra. They had had a detective
• 16:39
  Speaker 1: watch every step she took. Wherever she went, strange eyes
• 16:43
  Speaker 1: had been glued to her, strange eyes and Aunt Emily's notions.
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: Myra sat quite still and did not stir. She felt
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: as if brutal hands were tearing her clothes from her
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: body piece by piece. Not the hands of this stranger.
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: It was Aunt Emily's hands that were doing it, It
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: was Aunt Emily's face she saw before her, wreathed in
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: a mocking smirk and slavering with foul enjoyment. Slowly, slowly,
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: Myra's fingers clenched to a fist. She bowed her head.
• 17:12
  Speaker 1: The corners of her mouth twitched and she swallowed hard.
• 17:16
  Speaker 1: Again the professor's voice came softly and soothingly. Just think
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: back on your childhood. Didn't you love this young woman
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: who influenced you as a child? And aren't you glad
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: and grateful now that you were separated from her? Well
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: you will be just as grateful to us later on
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: when you are capable of judging. If you stop to
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: think you know it now in your heart of hearts.
• 17:38
  Speaker 1: It is you who are the true friend. It is
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: you who love, who sacrifice yourself. It is you who
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: are used, are treated as a plaything, or denied on occasion,
• 17:48
  Speaker 1: and sooner or later tossed aside. Do you imagine that
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: this is the first case I have seen? Meanwhile you
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: will be ruined for the rest of your life, made
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: sick in body and soul, Robbed of every possibility of happiness.
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: What is left for you? According to your capacities, death
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: or suicide. I have seen terrible tragedies come about in
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: this way. Myra strove in vain against the impression which
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: the words made upon her. Her tensed nerves felt a
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: cold breath that made her shudder to the very core
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: of her being. It seemed to her like a warning
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: cry from the darkly veiled future. Death the end. A
• 18:26
  Speaker 1: fearful something strode inexorably toward her. casting its cold shadow
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: in advance. She shivered. She had to make an effort
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: to regain her outward calm. She dug her nails in
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: the arms of her chair and swallowed once or twice.
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: All that is quite aside from the point, she said
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: at last with an effort. Perhaps you will be so
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: good as to tell me why they really called you
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: in and what they have decided concerning me. If not
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: an insane asylum, do they intend to shut me up
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: in a cloister? or a reform school, or send me
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: to America. That was what she had feared. Myra felt
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: the walls, the handcuffs. She glanced about her like a
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: hunted animal driven into a trap. No escape anywhere, no
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: possibility of flight. They were separating her from Olga. That
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: was bad, but not the worst. They were doing it
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: by force. They should have asked her to take this journey,
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: they should have allowed her time, time to say goodbye,
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: time for an explanation, time to pack her own things,
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: her books. Now Aunt Emily was at her bureau, was
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: packing for her, was rummaging around. In an hour she
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: would be sitting in the train, without having been able
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: to inform Olga. And Uncle George would be sitting across
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: from her, as her keeper. And what would happen here
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: in the meanwhile, to her desk, her books, to Olga.
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: She had a desire to tear something to pieces, to
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: dash out her brains against the walls. She did nothing.
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: She rose from her chair quite pale. Is that all?
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: she asked. I am delighted, said the professor, rising at
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: the same time, that you agree to this journey. Agree?
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: said Myra with a contemptuous twitch of the lips. I
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: submit to coercion because I know that all resistance is useless.
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: If my aunt wished, she could have dragged me off
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: in chains, and my father would look on, and all
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: the courts in the world would uphold her. The professor
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: went up to her and opened the door. Miss Myra
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: and I find ourselves in perfect agreement, he announced cheerfully.
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: I have prescribed a little change of air. and she
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: is overjoyed to pass a few weeks under your hospitable roof,
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: her von Sieblitz. Uncle George rubbed his powerful hands, Franz
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: Rudloff attempted a feeble smile, and Aunt Emily made a surprised,
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: and as it seemed to Myra, disappointed face. She rushed
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: up to the professor and hissed in a low voice
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: but loud enough for all to hear. But you told me, professor,
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: that you wanted to examine her, to see if there
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: were not some physical abnormalities, and I think... The professor
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: endeavored in vain to silence her by a slight motion
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: of the hand and eyelids. It was too late. Myra
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: had already heard. Had suddenly, instantly understood. It was too late.
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: She was conscious only of the fierce desire to see
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: this horrible creature die under her hands. She did not
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: know she moved. The floor moved under her feet. She
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: heard a gurgling that was strange and hideous, and yet
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: seemed to come from her own throat. She felt her
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: fingers close on a thin, withered neck, felt at the
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: same moment her own wrists gripped by hands that were
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: like iron, gripped so tightly that all the blood seemed
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: to stop in her veins and she thought she would smother.
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: She felt she could not endure this torture one heartbeat longer.
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: Let me go, she growled. Let me go. The physician
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: immediately released her right arm, and a moment later Uncle
• 21:58
  Speaker 1: George released her left. Then her wrists began to ache.
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: She rubbed them quite mechanically. She felt exhausted, quiet, shattered.
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: She was almost happy at the idea that she must
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: leave this house, these people at once this very moment.
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: She turned to the physician. When does the train leave?
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: Isn't it time to get ready? We are going the
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: same way, I think. The professor remarked casually when the
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: auto had drawn up before the door. Have you room
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: in the car? Myra looked at him in surprise and
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: with a little smiling scorn. Subterfuge is unnecessary, Professor, if
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: you want to take me to the station. My family
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: will gladly forego the pleasure. It is better for all concerned.
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: She gave her father her fingertips, which he clasped in
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: both hands. Goodbye, Papa, take care of yourself. Aunt Emily
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: drew back against the wall as if she feared a
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: new assault on her life, but Myra passed her with
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: a contemptuous glance. The journey on the train was longer
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: than she expected. Myra gazed intently out the window, striving
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: to impress on her mind the name of every station,
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: every village, every crossing. It was possible that she would
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: have to return on foot. She had no money. Whether
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: she would have the opportunity to pawn or sell valuables
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: was doubtful. She glanced at the mileage signs fifty miles
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: from home. She could make four miles an hour with ease.
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: Too bad it wasn't summer. It wouldn't be pleasant passing
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: the night in the open at two below zero.