Jane Slayre Read Free

laughed," Georgiana pointed out, as if to add to her mother's argument about my disgusting common nature. "She nearly drove us all out of mind with her unmitigated mirth."
    "What a wanton to tempt Master John with laughing and bleeding." This from Abbot, monotone as ever but dutifully indignant on her mistress's behalf. "As if she wanted to be eaten."
    Then Mrs. Reed subjoined, "Take her away to the red room and lock her in there, away from my children." Four hands were immediately laid upon me, and I was borne upstairs.
    CHAPTER 2
    I DRIPPED BLOOD ALONG THE carpet all the way, a circumstance that greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie and Miss Abbot were disposed to entertain of me. I believed John Reed's fang had pierced an artery, for the flow came fast and would not stop though I tried to press the wound and dab at it with my sleeve. Abbot took my attempts to stanch the bleeding as fighting her off and held me tighter, confining my arms, until she fell asleep midwalk and nearly dropped me. Bessie caught me and nudged Abbot.
    "Help me lift her, Miss Abbot. She's dazed."
    "For shame." The lady's maid woke and took me entirely out of Bessie's hands, holding me, again, by the dress. "What shocking conduct, Miss Slayre, to entice your benefactress's son, your young master."
    I hardly had the strength to speak, yet I found my voice. "Master? Am I a servant? Am I to let him feed at will?"
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    "No, you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep. And to laugh at Master Reed? There, sit down, and think over your fit of levity."
    They had got me by this time into the apartment indicated by Mrs. Reed and had thrust me upon a stool, but I had such trouble sitting upright that I immediately lost my balance. Levity? I grew lighter by the minute.
    "If you don't stop bleeding, we'll have to bandage you up," said Bessie. "Miss Abbot, lend me your kerchief."
    The cadaver-thin Miss Abbot reached inside her sleeve, and I recoiled. I dreaded to think of something so close to Miss Abbot's pasty skin touching my own. If her hand came with it, I might lose my potatoes and spinach on the red room's carpet.
    "Don't take it off," I cried. "I'm nearly done bleeding."
    Bessie clucked her tongue, reached in a pocket for her own handkerchief, and began dabbing at my neck. I shifted a little on my seat, seeing two Bessies for a brief moment, and tried not to swoon.
    "She's never done anything like this before," Bessie said to Abbot, as if I were no longer present.
    "It was always in her" was the reply. "I've heard Missus often enough and I agree with her opinion about the child. She's an underhanded little thing. She wants to be like them."
    Like them? My heart revolted, but I did not care to correct the notion for fear of losing my breath. My head swam.
    Bessie didn't answer, but addressed me. "You ought to be aware, miss, that you are under obligations to Mrs. Reed. She keeps you. If she were to turn you off, you would have to go to the poorhouse."
    Miss Abbot joined in. "And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Missus kindly allows you to be brought up with them. They have a great deal of money, and you have none. It is your place to be placid, and if Master Reed wants a taste now and then, so be it."
    A taste? No doubt the bloodless Abbot thought it nothing to simply offer a sample.
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    "What we tell you is for your own good," added Bessie. "You should try to stay out of the way and be quiet. Then, perhaps, you would have a home here."
    "Come, Bessie, we will leave her; I wouldn't have her heart for anything." Indeed, even an animal's blood took preference over my common sort. "Miss Slayre, when you are by yourself, something bad might be permitted to come down the chimney and fetch you away."
    I could not imagine much worse than with whom I currently resided. They went, shutting the door behind them. The red room was a square chamber, seldom slept in, I might say never,