Jeffrey's sister? Yes, sir." The menace was gone from the
voice now, but no one could forget that it had been there.
"Miss Tuttle lived in the house with her sister, did she not?"
"Yes, sir; till that sister died and was buried; then she went away."
The coroner did not pursue this topic, preferring to return to the
former one.
"So you say that Mrs. Jeffrey showed uneasiness ever since her
wedding day. Can you give me any instance of this; mention, I mean,
any conversations overheard by you which would show us just what you
mean?"
"I don't like to repeat things I hear. But if you say that I must,
I can remember once passing Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey in the hall, just
as he was saying: 'You take it too much to heart! I expected a
happy honeymoon. Somehow, we have failed -' That was all I heard,
sir. But what made me remember his words was that she was dressed
for some afternoon reception and looked so charming and so - and so,
as if she ought to be happier."
"Just so. Now, when was this? How long before her death?"
"Oh, a week or so. It was very soon after the wedding day."
"And did matters seem to improve after that? Did she appear any
better satisfied or more composed?"
"I think she endeavored to. But there was something on her mind,
something which she tried to laugh off; something that annoyed Mr.
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