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in the doorway with her back to us was a white…haired figure。 she was humming。 la…la…la…la…la。 that broken piece of melody； without a beginning； without a resolution； that had haunted me ever since i came to the house。 it wormed its way into my head； where it vied with the high…pitched vibration of my sister。 at my side aurelius waited for me to announce us to emmeline。 but i could not speak。 the universe was reduced to an unbearable ululation in my head； time stretched into one eternal second； i was struck dumb。 i brought my hands to my ears； desperate to ease the cacophony。 seeing my gesture； it was aurelius who spoke。 “margaret！”
and hearing an unknown voice behind her； emmeline turns。 since she was taken by surprise； there is anguish in her green eyes。 her lipless mouth pulls into a distorted o； but the humming does not stop； only veers and lurches into a shrill wail； like a knife in my head。 aurelius turns in shock from me to emmeline and is transfixed by the broken face of the woman who is his mother。 like scissors； the sound from her lips slashes the air。
for a time i am both blinded and deafened。 when i can see again； emmeline is crouched on the floor； her keening fallen to a whimper。 aurelius kneels over her。 her hands scrabble at him； and i do not know whether she means to clasp him or to repel him； but he takes her hand in his and holds it。
hand in hand。 blood with blood。 he is a monolith of sorrow。
inside my head； still； a torment of bright white sound。 my sister— my sister—
the world retreats and i find myself alone in an agony of noise。
i know what happened next； even if i can’t remember it。 aurelius releases emmeline tenderly onto the floor as he hears steps in the hall； here is an exclamation as judith realizes she does not have her keys。 in the time it takes her to go and find a second set—maurice’s； probably— aurelius darts toward the door and disappears into the garden。 when judith at last enters the room； she stares at emmeline on the floor； then； with a cry of alarm； steps in my direction。
but at the time i know none of this。 for the light that is my sister embraces me； possesses me； relieves me of consciousness。 at last。
。。
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY
？小｜说网
anxiety； sharp as one of miss winter’s green gazes； needles me awake。 what name have i pronounced in my sleep？ who undressed me and put me to bed？ what will they have read into the sign on my skin？ what has bee of aurelius？ and what have i done to emmeline？ more than all the rest it is her distraught face that torments my conscience when it begins its slow ascent out of sleep。
when i wake i do not know what day or time it is。 judith is there； she sees me stir and holds a glass to my lips。 i drink。 before i can speak； sleep overwhelms me again。
the second time i woke up； miss winter was at my bedside； book in hand。 her chair was plump with velvet cushions； as always； but with her tufts of pale hair around her naked face； she looked like a naughty child who has climbed onto the queen’s throne for a joke。
hearing me move； she lifted her head from her reading。
‘dr。 clifton has been。 you had a very high temperature。“
i said nothing。
‘we didn’t know it was your birthday；“ she went on。 ”we couldn’t find a card。 we don’t go in much for birthdays here。 but we brought you some daphne from the garden。“
in the vase were dark branches； bare of leaf； but with dainty purple flowers all along their length。 they filled the air with a sweet； heady fragrance。
‘how did you know it was my birthday？“
‘you told us。 while you were sleeping。 when are you going to tell me your story； margaret？“
‘me？ i haven’t got a story；“ i said。
‘of course you have。 everybody has a story。“
‘not me。“ i shook my head。 in my head i heard indistinct echoes of words i may have spoken in my sleep。
miss winter placed the ribbon at her page and closed the book。
‘everybody has a story。 it’s like families。 you might not know who they are； might have lost them； but they exist all the same。 you might drift apart or you might turn your back on them； but you can’t say you haven’t got them。 same goes for stories。 so；“ she concluded； ”everybody has a story。 when are you going to tell me yours？“
‘i’m not。“
she put her head to one side and waited for me to go on。
‘i’ve never told anyone my story。 if i’ve got one； that is。 and i can’t see any reason to change now。“
‘i see；“ she said softly； nodding her head as though she really did。 ”well； it’s your business； of course。“ she turned her hand in her lap and stared into her damaged palm。 ”you are at liberty to say nothing； if that is what you want。 but silence is not a natural environment for stories。 they need words。 without them they grow pale； sicken and die。 and then they haunt you。“ her eyes swiveled back to me。 ”believe me； margaret。 i know。“
for long stretches of time i slept； and whenever i woke； there was some invalid’s meal by my bed； prepared by judith。 i ate a mouthful or two； no more。 when judith came to take the tray away she could not disguise her disappointment at seeing my leavings； yet she never mentioned it。 i was in no pain—no headache； no chills； no sickness—unless you count profound weariness and a remorse that weighed heavily in my head and in my heart。 what had i done to emmeline？ and aurelius？ in my waking hours i was tormented by the memory of that night； the guilt pursued me into sleep。
‘how is emmeline？“ i asked judith。 ”is she all right？“
her answers were indirect： why should i be worried about miss emmeline when i was poorly myself？ miss emmeline had not been right for a very long time。 miss emmeline was getting on in years。
her reluctance to spell it out told me everything i wanted to know。 emmeline was not well。 it was my fault。
as for aurelius； the only thing i could do was write。 as soon as i was able； i had judith bring me pen and paper and； propped up on a pillow； drafted a letter。 not satisfied； i attempted another and then another。 never had i had such difficulty with words。 when my bedcover was so strewn with rejected versions that i despaired at myself； i selected