The changeling

The afternoon seemed long. I thought it would never pass. And then ... the knocking was reverberating through the house. I went downstairs. I was standing at the foot of them when the maid opened the door. I heard her give an exclamation of amazement and I hurried forward.

“Celeste!” I cried. “Oh ... Celeste!” I rushed at her and embraced her.

She looked pale and quite bewildered. “Rebecca,” she murmured. I turned to the maid. “Mrs. Lansdon’s come home!” I cried. “She’s here ... she’s safe.” I was trying to imagine how I would be feeling if this were a surprise to me.

There were several people in the hall now. They were all staring at Celeste as though she were a ghost. The butler and the housekeeper arrived. I turned to them. “She’s ill,” I said. “I’m going to get her to bed. Let hot-water bottles be put in the bed. She’s shivering. Get the doctor. Send for Mr. Lansdon. I’ll tell you what to say. Send at once ... and for the moment say nothing to anyone ...”

I wrote a message. “Come at once. We have astounding news. Very necessary you are here.”

“There must be no mention of Mrs. Lansdon’s return to the outside world as yet,” I said. “We must wait to see how Mr. Lansdon intends to handle this.” They all listened in awe.

The dignified butler bowed his head. He was the sort of man who would show little emotion in any contingency. I think he saw the wisdom of my reasoning. Nobody wanted the press here until Mr. Lansdon arrived. It was so easy to say something which would be regretted afterwards.

I got her to her room. They were fussing about with hot water bottles. When they had gone I helped her undress and to get into bed.

I said: “Say little, Celeste. You are doing well. You looked quite bewildered and dazed.”

She replied: “I feel it. Oh Rebecca, I’m so frightened.”

“It’s going to work out. Just say nothing. Don’t answer questions ... if they are awkward. We’ll work it out.”

“Benedict ...”

“He’ll understand. I shall make him understand.”

“Oh, Rebecca!” She was sobbing in my arms.

“Listen, Celeste,” I said. “This has been a terrible time but it is over now. Everything will be different from now on. I know it.”

She looked at me with a certain confidence and I felt quite humble. I was talking to give myself courage for I was as apprehensive as she was. The housekeeper tapped on the door. I went outside so that Celeste should not hear what was said.

“The message has been sent off to Manorleigh,” I was told, “and the doctor will be here very soon.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Greaves,” I said. “This has been a terrible business. Mrs. Lansdon has clearly lost her memory.”

“I’ve heard of such cases, Miss Rebecca.”

“She’ll be all right. It is coming back a little now. I gathered that she recognized the house as her home which is a good sign.”

“Poor lady. She must have gone through a good deal.”

“Yes, but we’ll get her better. When Mr. Lansdon comes...”

“Of course, Miss Rebecca. Ah. There’s someone at the door. It must be the doctor.”

I went down to him. I knew him because he had been to the house once or twice before. I said to him: “A most extraordinary thing has happened. I am sure Mr. Lansdon would not want it known until he himself has had time to deal with the matter. He will be here very shortly for he has been informed. Mrs. Lansdon is here.” He was taken aback.

“Yes,” I went on. “It appears she lost her memory.”

“So ... that is the explanation.”

“Dr. Jennings, I know I can rely on your discretion. It is rather important that no one knows she has come back until Mr. Lansdon is here. In view of his position and all the fuss there has been we should not be able to deal with the press.”

“I see,” said the doctor. “Yes, of course.”

“He will want to see you, I expect, when he arrives. But in the meantime I thought you should visit Mrs. Lansdon. She is in a weak state and questions seem to upset her.”

“I understand. Let me see her. I’ll give her something to soothe her. I expect she wants rest ... and when she has had it ... we’ll go on from there.”

“Let me take you to her.”

I went into the bedroom. Celeste looked scared. I said: “It’s only the doctor, Celeste. He’s going to give you something soothing to make you sleep. There is nothing to worry about now. You’re home and safe.”

I remained in the room with the doctor. I was terrified that he might ask her some question and at the moment she seemed in no state to deal with a complicated situation. However he was both soothing and tactful. He gave her a dose which he said would make her sleep. We left together. He shut the door and said to me: “She’s very muddled, isn’t she? What a mercy she saw the house and recognized it. It’s clearly a case of loss of memory.”

”It will come back, I hope.”

“Gradually. But it may take some time.”

“I am so absolutely delighted that she has returned.”

“It has been a trying time for the whole family. But this is the best thing that could have happened in the circumstances She doesn’t seem to be ill physically. It is just this mental block. It happens now and then.”