?
"You don't say," Dr Van Hoff chuckled in
bewilderment. "My mother likes French and British adventure stories,
German?Romantics?and poets. Little did she know she could find all
these and more by studying some patient histories. I will be certain to let her
know.
?
Love turning to hatred. I mean, I could see that
taking place with the higher classes. I was usually of the opinion that less
fortunate citizen need more medicine and resources at large. But now I am
beginning to wonder if perhaps the Lutherans demanding more churches might be
the right idea. All this investment in their Masters, it just seems...so very
different from my field of expertise.
?
I am grateful for having you to explain all these
things to me. My knowledge must have been more of a theoretical nature than I
had surmised. I always prided myself on field work and it galls me to see how
many vital factors on the road to healing I may be ignoring. Thank you for
enlightening me, dearest Mary Beth," the doctor exclaimed, forgetting in the
excitement of new discoveries his intention to speak quieter so as to avoid
disturbing the Frankenstein fellow.
?
"No Heidi, thank you for sharing?your thoughts
with me, but that would be all for now," Elizabeth spoke, relieved to be on her
own once more. She doubted she would be that tired from running for miles as she
was from this simple exchange of pleasantries. The difficulty of being the house
wife may never end, but she could allow herself a break from time to time, and
now was definitely the time, the young woman decided openly smiling at her
confidence and letting Heidi interpret her smile in any way the girl
pleased.??????
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 9:13
AM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet
dreams
Mary Beth chuckled at the, country bumpkin, quip. She shook her
head at him, showing that she did not agree that he was a country bumpkin,
then her face became serious once more.
I would not discount either sedatives, or arsenic in the situation, while
most servants are what they seem to be, and are quite grateful for a chance to
work and earn their pay, there are more than a few who, well they are less
than completely scrupulous in their actions with their masters. ?If the
master of the house does not pay them what they feel they are worth, or, I
have heard of a few cases of unrequited love, where the servants love for the
master turns to hatred, and the servant seeks?to take revenge on the
master somehow. I am not sure whether or not even the mistress of the house
might be in danger. And yes, we?should?check laundry, food, and at
some point if we find nothing in the house, we may have to gain entry into the
lab, and check there. There¡¯s no telling what we Will find if and or when, we
do that.
She smiled and chuckled along with him at the mention of spells. I would
not even totally discount those, she stated, but I know, Doctor that you, have
a very scientific, logical mind, and do not believe in such things as magic,
the odds are our patient doesn¡¯t either.
So am I, mistress, Heidi replied when Elizabeth said she was glad
they understood each other once again.
Some people seem to thrive on gossip, confrontation and conflict; I am
not such a one, I would much rather do things peacefully, and without a bunch
of fuss.
She brightened with approval when Elizabeth suggested checking on Victor
the next day, looking pleased when she hoped that, dear Victor, would recover.
Yes all we can do is hope, and I don¡¯t think that is too early to check on him
at all, mistress; hopefully by then they will know something. She gave
Elizabeth a quizzical look, will there be anything else for you presently,
mistress?
God loves you.
"Indeed? Servants? Is it common to this
area?then? My family hails from Strassbourg and back there nothing like
this ever takes place. Makes me sound like country bumpkin, I suppose. Yet
there is hope for me yet, as I am willing to learn," Van Hoff smirked,
pushing his light brown curls away from his face.
?
They have been behaving so well even a night
earlier, but him having to be dispatched without preparation understandably
forced him to make a few sacrifices in style.
?
"Well then, you know these people better than I
do, it seems. Tell me, what signs should I be looking for? Would the
servants, in their outrage leave bruises in some secrets places? Would they
sabotage our patient's...laundry? I am getting fanciful here, trying to
follow up on your suspicion. Should we look for sedatives that could be
found in the house specifically, or even...arsenic?
?
I assume I should not discount traces of
malicious spells either," Dr Van Hoff chuckled,?inviting his assistant
to join him in his attempt to lighten the mood.?
?
"Of course if I am being frank, perhaps that
would not go amiss either. If the servants believe in superstitions, they
should be able to show their hand,?to leave some trace of their ill
intent, and then we could uncover who they are...I will be honest with you,
as is my way. When I signed up for this job, I never imagined it to?be
so complicated at times," the doctor signed,?in acknowledgment of the
complexity of his work.
?
"Well spoken, Heidi. I am glad we understand
each other once again. Yes, we all can only hope for dear Victor's recovery.
Do you think it would be too soon to check on his?progress tomorrow,"
Elizabeth wondered, mastering her best girlish tone. At least that
was?how she imagined the girlish tone, the one that somebody like Heidi
might expect from a simpering lady of the house.
??????????
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020
10:22 AM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet
dreams
I don¡¯t know for certain, Doctor, Mary Beth began, but
sometimes, servants have rather nasty ways of treating their masters, if
they do not like them, or if the master does not choose to pay as much as
the servant feels he or she is worth. ?some servants have been known
to dispatch their masters in very unpleasant ways, if there is a
disagreement between them.
Heidi looked relieved when Elizabeth excepted her apology. Thank you
Mistress, her tone was meek as she offered her sincere gratitude.
?yes I will make certain to speak well of you in the future, I have
not spoken ill of you to anyone. ?but you could very well be right,
someone else encouraging him to speak freely what he thinks about such
matters, might indeed provoke him to speak his mind on the subject.
?she looked worried then, we can only hope that¡, That he recovers
from this, whatever ill?fortune has befallen him.
God loves you.
"Mary Beth, when you mention angry
servants...what do you imagine their influence on the patient's
condition to be? Tell me, what have?you observed in your wisdom?
?
Do you feel the patient could be feeling
guilty for not being able to dissolve the tension in the house?
Does?he consider it his fault perhaps?" Dr?Van Hoof knew he
was fishing but such mundane matters, as important as they may have been
for his patients, was not something he could generally relate to in such
particulars.
?
"Very well Heidi. Now that you have made
yourself clear, I accept your apology. Just make sure, when you are
conversing with other serving girls, to never be so unclear in the
future where they could misunderstand you and think badly of me. Women
can never be too careful about their reputation. I trust you understand
that.
?
I am sorry the task makes you
uncomfortable. I would not have offered the idea,a had I believed there
was an easier way. My own concerns and questions Victor simply
dismissed, without addressing them.?I don't think he does not trust
me. But perhaps he is so used to me that discussing his discoveries with
me does not at al excite him.
?
I was hopeful that a fresh attention, of a
young woman in particular could flatter him, make him think about it and
talk about it that is all. But if you find yourself coming up with a
better idea, by all means let me know. If there is a more respectable
approach I have missed, then I would be all the more gratified to hear
about it," Elizabeth coldly encouraged.
????
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2020
10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate]
Sweet dreams
Malnourishment possibly, Mary Beth began, I believe
that is a definite factor in his problem, but a house such as that one
usually has more than one or two servants. ?servants often become
angry with their employers, sometimes because they feel they are not
receiving enough wages for their work, or it could be other things. I
don¡¯t believe the wife is doing anything amiss, she seemed too
concerned and distraught over the entire situation. It will be
interesting to see whether or not she actually comes to visit him, and
check on his progress, or lack there of, which ever the case may prove
to be.
Heidi looked uncomfortable and very uneasy, what else was she
supposed to think? ?Uh no mistress, I could never think so poorly
of you, nor could I think myself so much better than you in such
matters as seducing your husband, or anyone else¡¯s husband for that
matter. Honestly, the task makes me uncomfortable and nervous,
nevertheless I will do it, because you, my mistress, have asked me to
do so. ?seducing another woman¡¯s husband is not in my nature. I
just wanted to make sure that I understood you, what you wanted me to
do, that¡¯s all. Perhaps I strive to hard to please, but I never meant
anything by it, that?I would think so lowly of you to ask such a
thing. ??I meant nothing by it, please, accept my humble
apology.
"Outside forces, Mary Beth. Do you
mean...something similar to a disease traveling through the air, or
malnourishment, or I have read about people beginning to?lose
their mind in the Norse due to a severely somber weather...What kind
were you referring to, please explain," Dr Van Hoff encouraged with
a frown, not truly surprised that his astute assistant may have
picked up on something he had missed.
?
"Jolly good, Heidi. Only the very idea
that I would suggest something inappropriate. Does it not indicate
how poorly you think of me? Is this my reward for being candid with
you, girl?
?
Alright, use this opportunity then to
tell me how you really feel about me. What did I do to make you even
wonder. Even wonder, I say, that I am capable of such an outrageous
idea.?To seduce my own husband, while I am still a member of
this household? Why, you must think of your own charms and
persuasion even more than I do.
?
I suppose it is not?all bad. If
you are that confident of yourself, however secretly, you have every
chance of getting the mission accomplished.
?
But do answer me this. Why do?you
hold such a low opinion of me all of a sudden? Has somebody been
talking to you about me, spreading rumors that you never put a stop
to?" Elizabeth demanded, privately amused with her ability to
dominate the serving girl.
?
She?could and would achieve
greater things, against a greater challenge, but this
was?certainly a pleasant start.??
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, September 4,
2020 6:01 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet dreams
Marybeth took the
liberty of finishing Van Hoff¡¯s sentence, go right back to his old
ways after a while, she concluded, it¡¯s sad that indeed most
people do this, no matter how fearful at first they might seem of
the thing that happened to them.
She frowned in consideration, actually, I¡¯m worried about
that household too. I think the woman loves him, and I¡¯m
reasonably certain that he loves her, at least on some level, but
there¡¯s tension and conflict somewhere, I think some of the
problem may be coming from outside forces. Of course I can¡¯t prove
that yet, but that is my theory at present.
Heidi cringed, both inside, and visibly. Please mistress, I
never meant to bring your displeasure or discomfort, I did not
actually think you meant for me to seduce him, but I wanted to
make certain that we understood each other, I wanted to make
certain that you really meant for me to only ask him. Because, if
you had wanted something more, something more sinister, I fear
that is just not in my nature. We can only hope that our patient
will indeed learn from his mistakes.
God loves
you.
"Mary Beth, let me be honest with
you. It might be uncomfortable, but one has to be honest when
lives are at stake, I think.
?
I think, my impression of young
Frankenstein's household is...somewhat complicated. Perhaps not
more so than other households, but not truly in an encouraging
way. I suppose he loves his wife, I suppose she is well intended
and may care for him as deeply.
?
But something is not right in
there. And do you know, dear Mary Beth, the main factor to bad
habits proliferating? Well, yes of course, it has to do with the
environment.
?
After we get our patient back up,
and I am reasonably confident that we can, he will be coming
back to a somewhat unstable environment. Good intentions and the
desire to care, do not necessarily resolve themselves in equally
great results. I may be mistaken, but I do hold to the opinion
that Victor would...relapse," Van Hoff lowered his voice at the
last word,?in case the patient could hear him on some level
and assimilate his words enough to make them true. He did not
wish to be wrong and cause the very thing he feared for
Victor.
?
"I think he would try. Most
patients try at first because they are frightened of the malady
that befell them. For some time they seek to avoid it, but later
lose interest and..." the doctor explained, his shrug as
helpless as his lack of hope in the patient's
recovery.?
?
"Oh Heidi, don't be ridiculous.
It's as if you are trying to misconstrue my meaning on purpose
to make your mission impossible," Elizabeth complained,
reminding herself to relent, lest her cheeks, her weakest
feature at present, unduly puffed themselves.
?
"I never said, seduce him, have I,
girl?" she demanded imperiously, beginning to wonder?if she
bet on the wrong horse one more time, as young Elizabeth did a
long time ago.
?
"Yes, yes, you can simply ask him.
Ask him nicely is what I meant, obviously. Truly Heidi, are your
dreams getting the?better of you now? Can you do this thing
for both of our sake? Can you simply ask my husband for such a
reasonable favor? I am certain a girl with your...abilities
would find plenty of pleasure in other quarters, of that has
been your desire," Elizabeth concluded half questioningly,
trying to ascertain the degree of their mutual
understanding.
?
It was a little bit similar to
playing on the edge. The old Elizabeth would have been reluctant
to?do so, fearful of the fallout, of the very thought, of
the new thinking. But the new Elizabeth forged right ahead,
confident?in her newly found powers and her ability to
protect herself against most types of enemies.
?
?
"Well, he doesn't have to believe
in dreams, my dear. All he needs to know is that you do, and he
could seek to indulge you.?especially when it takes such a
small effort on his part. I firmly believe he has become a
greater supporter of small efforts and meaningless gestures,"
the young woman could not help but comment bitterly,
her?facade slipping if only for?a brief moment.
?
???
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, September
3, 2020 2:06 PM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet dreams
Doctor, do you think it will be the same with
Victor? Or, do you think he will learn from his mistakes, and
try to do better? Surely, it cannot be all because of self
indulgence, Mary Beth suggested.
How Heidi truly wished and longed, for Victor to have an
interest in her; she reason that even an affair, was better
than no attention from him at all, and such a positive
interest from him, would cause her to break off her attempt to
slowly kill him. A soft blush touched her cheeks with
Elizabeth¡¯s compliments.
I shall do what I can of course, but mistress, surely you
would not have me to actually seduce him. It was a statement,
what seemed to her a rather bold, obvious one. I am thinking
that you want me just simply to ask him questions, questions
about dreams and the like I suppose. He probably doesn¡¯t know
much about that sort of thing though, I am given to understand
that most people of science, men especially, don¡¯t take as
much stock in dreams as women might take. ?men can be
such poor, logical creatures, which no doubt serves them well
in some instances, while it serves as their downfall
in?others.
God loves
you.
"I don't know about everyone,
dearest Mary Beth. Some people can indeed learn but
others...I have lost a score of battles against several
patients who did not stop indulging their caviar obsessions
or worse yet, the horrible drinking habit.
?
It seemed they would understand
me at the time, likely because they recognized their
suffering was caused by something they were doing. But as
soon as I managed to alleviate their suffering, their habits
returned as if they were never gone. I think it takes a
stronger person, than merely an intelligent one, to
actually?discard what is bad for them.
?
Although it should not be so, I
should be agreeing with you in this respect, yet alas, this
is not my experience. Making you more singular for learning
from yours than you can possibly know," Van Hoff reassured
earnestly, his voice completely serious and devoid of any
undue flattery.
?
"I know Heidi, I know. It is
not easy for me to say. But you know how it is, when you are
united?in the eyes of the Lord, it does not mean that
one is not weary of the other.
?
I am not quite as lovely, as
feminine as you, I fear, and my influence on my husband is
very much diminished. Other women might have better rapport
with his needs. You seem so qualified. I do not wish to
pressure you into anything you are not comfortable with.
?
Be your charming self, that is
all that is needed, for Victor to be interested in giving
us, or rather you, a true explanation," Elizabeth hedged.
She felt her charms could be considerable, when exerted on a
worthy man, like Cylas. But?who was Victor, to properly
appreciate her?
?
If he wasn't interested in the
likes of Heidi now, he really ought to be. They were on the
same level, while Elizabeth herself was clearly above such
mediocrity.
?
It no longer seemed to her that
Heidi's experience was like hers. If it really was, the girl
would be the last to ask about it. But if she thought it
would be in her best interests to get involved, well for all
Elizabeth knew, Victor might be the kind of man that only
needed encouragement to express his true
passion.
?
He might even find a servant
girl preferable. Elizabeth thought she would have, in his
place. A servant was the one woman he could hope to handle,
pathetic creature that he became, and no amount of self
inflicted endowments was going to change his inner weakness.
She was his wife, she ought to know such facts better than
anyone, Elizabeth reasoned.??
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday,
September 2, 2020 9:46 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet dreams
Well Doctor, I think that anyone could
learn from any experience, I am hoping that perhaps our
patient here, will learn from this experience, and start
being a bit more careful and selective about what he puts
into his body, and perhaps take care of himself a bit
more. And thank you for saying that I know more than most
doctors, although I would dare Provencher most doctors
would doubt that seriously. She smiled at him warmly.
Heidi¡®s eyes widened with sincere surprise, she could
not believe what her mistress was saying about Victor
liking her the most. But, he is married to you, mistress;
I am nought but??a servant, I do not see how he
could like me the most, but as you say, I will do as you
suggest, he is a brilliant man of science.
God loves
you.
"Well, you are not wrong,
Heidi. But of course we don't have to approach it
directly. I could, or maybe we both could, on different
occasions, ask Victor what scientific phenomenon could
cause such strange dreams.
?
It would probably go along
way towards him offfering us a sincere?response, if
you compliment the level of his competence at science in
advance. I think he likes you the most," Elizabeth
tentatively?suggested.
?
"Oh nonsense Mary Beth. You
are so experienced than you know more than some doctors.
You can even catch me at an inaccuracy. And trust you
me,?unlike other men I do not mind that. I would
rather get it right for my patient than insist on being
right in my assertion.
?
Now let us take this a step
further. In your, experienced opinion, which intern do
you think could get the best results, or at least, learn
the most form the experience?" Van Hoff questioned with
sincere curiosity. ?
----- Original Message
-----
Sent: Monday,
August 31, 2020 8:47 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet dreams
Ooc, when I try to forward, it seems to
take the subject away, so I¡¯m going to try replying;
not sure what Aol has done here, but it¡¯s being kind
of weird.
IC: at this time, I have none, mistress, Heidi
replied, her tone and expression sincere; I don¡¯t
remember anything out of the ordinary happening to me,
nothing save for these crazy dreams that I¡¯ve been
having. And it looks as if it is the same for you.
What are we to do? ?I suppose we could wait until
the master is well again, and ask him about it, but
then, he likely doesn¡¯t know either, and would
probably think we have quite taken leave of our
senses. She thought to her self, this is Shirley the
one who can figure out what to do, since she is the
wife of the great Victor Frankenstein.
But I wonder, Mary Beth ventured, should we try
feeding him and rubbing his throat, so he can swallow?
Do you think that something warm and tasty going down,
might stimulate the palate, which intern could
stimulate, him? It¡¯s only a question mind you, I¡¯m not
the doctor here. ?While we¡¯re at it, shall I also
have some chicken broth or chicken soup brought to
you? I could probably eat as well, but I haven¡¯t
thought about it much, I¡¯ve been more concerned about
our patient, and so deeply involved in conversing with
you.
|
Ishamael Moridin