Yellow Paper

The Yellow Paper #9

But, turn as fast as I can, I can only
see out of one at one time.
And though I always see her, she may
be able to creep faster than I can turn !
I have watched her sometimes away
off in the open country, creeping as fast
as a cloud shadow in a high wind.
* * * * * *
If only that top pattern could be got-
ten off from the under one! I mean to
try it, little by little.
I have found out another funny thing,
but I shan't tell it this time! It does
not do to trust people too much.
There are only two more days to get
this paper off, and I believe John is
beginning to notice. I don't like the
look in his eyes.
And I heard him ask Jennie a lot of
professional questions about me. She
had a very good report to give.
She said I slept a good deal in the
daytime.
John 'knows I don't sleep very well at
night, for all I'm so quiet!
He asked me all sorts of questions, too,
and pretended to be very loving and
kind.
As if I couldn't see through him!
Still, I don't wonder he acts so, sleep-
ing under this paper for three months.
It only interests me, but I feel sure
John and Jennie are secretly affected by it.
* * * * * *
Hurrah! This is the last day, but it
is enough. John to stay in town over
night, and won't be out until this evening.
Jennie wanted to sleep with me - the
sly thing! but T told her I should un-
doubtedly rest better for a night all
alone. .
That was clever, for really I wasn't
alone a bit! As soon as it was moon-
light and that poor thing began to crawl
and shake the pattern, I got up and ran
to help her.
I pulled and she shook, I shook and
she pulled, and before morning we had.
peeled off yards of that paper.
A strip about as high as my head and
half around the room.
And then when the sun came and that
awful pattern began to laugh at me, I de-
clared I would finish it to-dav !
We go away to-morrow, ~nd they are
moving all my furniture down again to
leave things as they were before.
Jennie looked at the wall in amaze-
ment, but I told her merrily that I did it
out of pure spite at the vicious thing.
She laughed and said she wouldn't
mind doing it herself, but I must not get
tired.
How she betrayed herself that time!
But I am here, and no person touches
this paper but me,- not alive!
She tried to get me out of the room-
it was too patent! But I said it was so
quiet and empty and clean now that I be-
lieved I would lie down again and sleep
all I could; and not to wake me even for
dinner - I would call when I woke.
So now she is gone, and the servants
are gone, and the things are gone, and
there is nothing left but that great bed-
stead nailed down, with the canvas mat-
tress we found on it.
We shall sleep downstairs to-night, and
take the boat home to-morrow. .
I quite enjoy the room, now it is bare
again.
How those children did tear about
here!
This bedstead is fairly gnawed!
But I must get to work.
I have locked the door and thrown the
key down into the front path.
. I don't want to go out, and I don't
want to have anybody come in, till ] ohn
comes.
I want to astonish him.
I've got a rope up here that even J en-
nie did not find. If that woman does
get out, and tries to get away, I can tie
her!
But I forgot I could not reach far with-
out anything to stand on !
This bed will not move!
I tried to lift and push it until I was
lame, and then I got so angry I bit off a
little piece at one corner - but it hurt
my teeth.
Then I peeled off all the paper I could
reach standing on the floor. It sticks
horribly and the pattern just enjoys it !
All those strangled heads and bulbous
eyes and waddling fungus growths just
shriek with derision i
I am getting angry enough to do some-
thing desperate. To jump out of the