第20章

"Whataverystrangetoiletshehasmade!"hethought;"simpleandplaintothelastdegree,andyetsingularlyeffectiveandstriking.

Herfingerswereonceloadedwithrings,butshehastakenthemalloff,andnowherhandsareasperfectasherfeatures.Shedoesnotwearasingleornament,savethoseominousponiards.Doesshemeantosignifybythesethatsheiswounded,orthatsheproposestoinflictwounds?Yegods!howstrangely,terribly,exasperatinglybeautifulsheis!Ihavecertainlybothmisjudgedandmisunderstoodher."

Thesethoughtspassedthroughhismindashestoleanoccasionalglanceattheirobject,whosatwithherprofiletowardshimalmostinthelineofhisvision.Atthesametimehewasapparentlylisteningtoaprosyandinterminablestoryfromoneofthegroupofwhichhewasamember.Theyhadbeentellinganecdotesoftravel,andthelastspeaker\'sexperiencewas,likehisjourney,longanduninteresting.

VanBergsoonobservedthatmanyothersbesideshimselfwereobservingMissMayhew.Sheseemedtofascinate,perplex,andtroubleallwholookedtowardsher.Thesingularbeautyandstrikingtoiletmightaccount,inpart,forthelingeringglances,butnotfortheperplexityanduneasinesstheycaused.IfIdahadbeendeadherfeaturescouldnothavebeenmorecolorless;andtheyhadastern,hard,desperateexpressionthatwassadlyoutofharmonywithwhatshouldbetheappearanceofahappyyounggirl.

Herpresenceseemedtocauseanincreasingchillandrestraint.

Thehealthfulandnormalmindsofthoseabouthergrewvaguelyconsciousofanothermindthathadbeendeeplymoved,shakentoitsfoundations,andsohadbecomealmostabnormalanddangerousinitsimpulses.

Thereisaverygeneraltendencybothtoobserveandtoshrinkfromthatwhichisunnatural,andifthedeparturefromwhatiscustomaryisshowninunexpectedandunusualmentalaction,thestrongerbecometheuneasinessanddreadinthosewhowitnessit.

AllwhosawIdarecognizedthatshewasnotonlyunlikeherself,butunlikeanyoneinanordinarystateofmind,andpeoplewhowereintimatelookedateachothersignificantly,asiftoask——"WhatisthematterwithMissMayhew?Whatisthematterwithusall?"

Wereitnotthatthemaidenoccasionallyturnedaleaf,inordertokeepuptheillusionthatshewasreading,shemighthavebeenastatue,somotionlesswasherform,andsopallidherface.

Butshefeltthatshewasperplexingandtroublingthosewhohadwoundedher,andtheconsciousnessgavesecretsatisfaction.Herpastexperiencetaughthertoappreciatestageeffect,and,sinceshemeditatedatragedy,sheproposedthateverythingshouldbeastragicandblood-curdlingaspossible.

Thereisusuallybutashortstepbetweenhightragedyandpainfulabsurdity,whichexasperatesuswhilewelaughatit;butpoorIda\'sthoughtsweresodesperatelydarkanddespairing,andherexquisitefeatures,madealmosttransparentbygriefandfasting,soperfectlyinterpretedherunfeignedwretchedness,thateventhosewhoknewherbutslightlyweretouchedandtroubledinawaythattheycouldnotexplaineventothemselves.

MissBurtonwasevidentlymeditatinghowshecouldapproachIda,whoseemedencasedinarepellantatmosphere.VanBergsawthatStantonlookedanxiousandperplexed,andthatMrs.Mayhewwasexceedinglyworriedandannoyed.Atlasthehastilyapproachedherdaughterandwhispered,"Forheaven\'ssake,Ida,what\'sthematter?Youlookasifyouhadgoneintomourning."

Theyoungladyglancedcoldlyupandsaidstonily:

"Youhaveatleasttaughtmetodressappropriately."

"Nonsense,"continuedthemother,inalow,irritabletone."Whycan\'tyoucheerupandactlikeotherpeople?Don\'tyouseeyou\'regivingusalltheshivers?"

Sheslowlyswepttheroomwithhereyes,andsawthatnotafewcuriousglancesweredirectedtowardsher.Then,withbowedhead,sheglidedfromtheroomwithoutaword.

MissBurtoncaughtupwithherinthehall-way."Youareill,MissMayhew,"shesaid,withgentlesolicitude.

"Yes,"Idareplied,inthesamestony,repellantmanner;"butyouarenotaphysician,MissBurton.Goodevening."Andshewentswiftlyuptoherownroom,asifdeterminedtospeakwithnooneelsethatevening.

ChapterXXXVI.Temptation\'sVoiceVanBerghadbeensonearthathecouldnothelpoverhearingMrs.

Mayhew\'swordswhichhadledtotheabruptandsilentdepartureofherdaughterfromtheparlor.

"Thereissomemisunderstandinghere,"hethought,"whoseeffectsarebecomingoutrageouslycruel.Thepoorgirlwasdrivenawayfromthesupper-table,andnowsheisdrivenoutoftheparlor.

ShehasbeenananomalyfromthemomentIsawher,andInowmeantofathomthemystery.Herexquisitefaceindicatesthatsheisalmostdesperatefromsomekindoftrouble.Sheisbecomingill——sheiswastingunderit.Sibleywouldbeafatalmaladytoanyrespectablegirl,butImustgiveupallpretenceofskillatdiagnosisifheisthecause;forwereherheartsetonhimwhythemischiefcan\'tshegotohimwithallheroldrecklessflippancy?

Thereisnoneedofanyelopement,asIkfears.Shecaneasilycompelhermothertogotothecity,andherfatherwouldhavenopowertopreventthealliance,wereshebentuponit.Ibelieveherfamilymisunderstandandarewrongingher,andImayhaveoccasiontogodownonmykneesmyself,metaphorically,andaskherpardonformysuperiorairs."

Theseandkindredotherthoughtspassedthroughhismindasheslowlypacedupanddownasidepiazzawhichheoftensoughtwhenhewishedtobealone.Stanton,havinglostMissBurtonfortheevening,soonjoinedhim,andthrewhimselfdejectedlyintoachair.

"Van,"hesaid,"Iusedtoberatherself-complacent.IthoughtIhadlearnedtotakelifesophilosophicallythatIshouldhaveagoodtimeaslongasmyhealthlasted.Butto-nightIfeelasiflifewereahorriblyheavyburdenwhichI,anoverladenjackass,mustcarryformanyawearyday.Howlittleweknowwhatweareandwhatisbeforeus!I\'vebeenafool;Iamafool!"

"Well,Ik,"repliedVanBergwithashrug,"Iimaginethereisapairofus.Myreason——allthat\'sdecentinme——refusestoregardSibleyasthecauseofyourcousin\'smostevidentdistress.Forheaven\'ssakedon\'tconfirmyourwordsofthisafternoon,orIshallfeelliketakingthefirsttrain,inordertoescapefromthemostexasperatingparadoxthatevercontradictedaman\'ssenses."

"Van,youareright.Iammortifiedwithmyselfbeyondmeasure,andIambitterlyashamedthatmyaunt,herownmother,shouldhavesogrosslymisjudgedher.Sibley,nodoubt,IStheoccasionofhertroubleinpart,forsheseemsfairlytowritheunderthefalsepositioninwhichhehasplacedherbyleadingeveryonetoassociatehernamewithhis;butInowbelievethatsheloathesanddetestshimmorethanyouorIcan.Certainlynowomancouldspeakofamaninharsherormorescathingtermsthanshespokeofhimto-night.Well,tosumupthewholemiserabletrough,bytakinghermother\'sviewforgranted,ImadesuchamessofitthatIdoubtifsheeverspeakscivillytoeitherofusagain."

"Why!wasmynamementioned?"askedVanBerg,quickly.

"Yes,confounditall!Whenthingsaregoingwrongthereisamiserablefatalityaboutthem,andtheworstalwayshappens.Sheaskedmepoint-blankifyousharedmyestimateofher,andIsupposegottheimpressionyoudid."

"Wellreally,Stanton,"saidVanBerg,withsomeirritation,"I

thinkyoumusthavebeenunfortunateinyourlanguage."

"Worsethanunfortunate.Thewholeblunderisunpardonable.

Still,domejustice.Icouldnotanswerherquestionwithaboldlie.Andwhatwouldhavebeenitsuse?Howcouldyouexplainyourbearingtowardsheratthesuppertable?YourmannerwouldhavefrozenJezebelherself."

"Iwasaninfernalfool,"groanedVanBerg.

"ItisduetousboththatIshouldsayItoldheryouhadtriedtoformagoodopinionofher,andveryreluctantlyreceivedtheviewhermothersuggested.Isaid,ineffect,youwishedtothinkwellofher,althoughshehadtreatedyousobadly."

"Treatedmebadly!Ihavetreatedherathousandfoldworse.She,atleast,hasneverinsultedme,andIcanneverforgivemyselffortheinsultIhaveofferedher.

"Well,Ihopetofindherinthemoodtoacceptanapologyinthemorning,"saidStanton.

"I\'minaconfoundedlyawkwardpositiontoapologize,"growledVanBerg."Anyreferencetosuchanaffairwillbelikeanotherinsult;"andthefriendspartedinanunsatisfactorystateofmindtowardseachother,andespeciallytowardsthemselves.

ButthatwasasadandmemorablenighttoIdaMayhew.Shefeltthatitmightbeherlastonearth;forherdarkpurposewasrapidlytakingdefiniteform.

shewaspassingintothatunhealthfulconditionofmentalexcitement,inwhichthesalutaryrestraintsofthephysicalnaturelosetheirpower.Intheplaceofdrowsinessandweariness,shebegantoexperienceanunnaturalexaltationwhichwouldmakeanyrecklessfollypossible,ifittooktheguiseofsublimeandtragicaction.

Fewrealizetowhatdegreethemindcanbecomewarpedanddisordered,evenwithabrieftime,bytroubleandtheviolationofthelawsofhealth;andsome,byeducationandtemperament,arepeculiarlypredisposedtoabnormalconditions.Sciencehastaughtmenhowtobuildshipswithwater-tightcompartments,sothatifdisastercrushesinononeside,theotherpartsmaysavefromsinking.

Therearefortunatepeoplewhoarebuiltonthesamesafeprinciple.

Theyhavecultivatedminds,andvariedresourcesinartisticandscientificpursuits.Aboveallelse,theymayhavefaithinGodandabetterlifetocome;suchpossessionsarelikethecompartmentsofamodernship.Fewdisasterscandestroythemall,andinthelossofoneormorethesouliskeptafloatbytheothers.

ButitwouldseemthatpoorIda\'scharacterhadbeenconstructedwithfatalsimplicity,andwhenthecoldwavesoftroublerushedintherewasnothingtopreventherfromsinkingbeneaththemlikeastone.Hermindwasuncultivated,andart,science,literatureofferedherasyetnoresources,nopursuits.Shehadawoman\'sheartthatmighthavebeenfilledwithsustaininglove,butinitsplacehadcomeasuddenandicyfloodofdisappointmentanddespair.

Sheloved,withallthepassionandsimplicityofanarrow,yetearnestnature,themanwhohadawakenedthewomanwithinher,andhe,shebelieved,wouldnevergiveheraughtinreturn,savecontempt.Shenaturallythoughtthatshehadbeendegradedinhisestimationbeyondallordinarymeansofredemption;therefore,inherdesperationanddespair,shewasreadytotakeanextraordinarymethodofcompellingatleasthisrespect.

Moreover,Idawasimpatientandimpetuousbynature.Shehadalargecapacityforaction,butlittleforendurance.Itwouldbealmostimpossibleforhertoreachwoman\'sloftiestheroism,andsit"likePatienceonamonument,smilingatgrief."Itwouldbeherdispositionrathertorushforward,anddashherselfagainstanadversefate,meetingitevenmorethanhalfway.Alltheinfluencesofherlifehadtendedtodevelopimperiousness,willfulness,andnowherimpulsewastoenteraprotestagainstherhardlotthatwasaspassionateandrecklessasitwasimpotent.

ApartfromhersupremewishtofillVanBergwithregret,andawakeninhimsomethinglikerespect,thethoughtofdraggingonawretchedexistencethroughtheindefiniteyearstocomewasintolerable.Thecolorhadutterlyfadedoutoflife,andleftitbaldandrepulsivetothelastdegree.

Fashionabledissipationpromisedhernothing.Shehadoftentastedthis,totheutmostlimitofpropriety,andwaswellawarethatthegaywhirlhadnothingnewtooffer,unlesssheplungedintothemadexcitementofalifewhichisasbriefasitisvile.Itwastohercreditthatdeathseemedpreferabletothis.Itwaslargelyduetoherdefectivetrainingandlimitedexperience,thatauseful,innocentlife,eventhoughitpromisedtobedevoidofhappiness,wassoutterlyrepulsivethatshewasreadytothrowitawayinimpatientdisgust.

AsyetshewasincapableofJennieBurton\'sdivinephilosophyof"pleasingnot"herself.hewho"gavehislifeforothers"wasbutanameatthepronunciationofwhich,intheService,shewasaccustomedtobowprofoundly,buttowhom,inherheart,shehadneverbowedorofferedagenuineprayer.Religionseemedtoherasortoffashionwhichdifferedwiththetastesofdifferentpeople.

Shewasapracticalatheist.

ItisafearfulthingtopermitachildtogrowupignorantofGod,andofthesacredprinciplesofdutywhichshouldbeinwroughtintheconscience,andenforcedbythemostvitalconsiderationsofwell-being,bothforthisworldandtheworldtocome.

ButIdaMayhewthoughtnotofGodorduty,butonlyofherthwarted,unhappylife,fromwhichsheshrankweaklyandselfishly,assuringherselfthatshecouldnotandwouldnotendureit.Inherfathershesawonlyincreasinghumiliation;inhermother,oneforwhomshehadbutlittleaffectionandlessrespect,andwhowouldofnecessityirritatethewoundsthattimemightslowlyheal,couldsheliveinanatmosphereofdelicate,unspokensympathy;inherself,onewhomshenowbelievedtobesoignorantandfaultythatthemanshelovedhadturnedawayindisgustonfindingherout.Ifallthiswerenotbadenough,unforeseenandunfortunatecircumstances,evenmorethanherownfolly,hadbroughtaboutahumiliationfromwhichshefeltshecouldneverrecover.Inherblind,desperateefforttohideherpassionfromthemansheloved,shehadmadeitappearthatshewasinfatuatedwiththemansheloathed,andwhohadshownhimselfsuchacontemptiblevillainthatherassociationwithhimwasthescandalofthehouse.Ifherownmotherandcousincouldbelievethatshewasreadytothrowherselfawayforthesakeofsuchawretch,whatmustthepeopleofthehotelthink?

Whatkindofastorywouldgoabroadamongheracquaintancesinthecity?Shefairlycringedandwrithedatthethoughtofitall.

Itseemedtothetorturedandmorbidlyexcitedgirlthattherewasbutonewayoutofhertroubles,anddarkanddreadfulaswasthatpath,shethoughtitcouldleadtonothingsopainfulasthatfromwhichshewouldescape.

Butafterall,herchiefincentivetothefatalactwasthehopeofsecuringVanBerg\'srespect,andofimplantingherselfinhisheartasanundyingmemory,eventhoughasadandterribleone.

Withherideasofthefitnessofthingsthiswouldbeastrongtemptationatbest;butthepresentconditionsofherlife,aswehaveseen,sofarfromrestraining,addedgreatlytothetemptation.

And,ashasbeensaid,whiletheactseemedasternanddreadfulalternativetoworseevils,itwasnotrevoltingtoher.Shehadseensomanyofherfavoriteheroinesinfictionandactressesonthestage"shuffleoffthemortalcoil"withthemostappropriateexpressionsandinthemostbecomingtoiletsandattitudes,thatherpervertedandmelodramatictasteledhertobelievethatVanBergwouldregardhercrimeasasublimevindicationofherhonor.

Heronlytasknow,therefore,wastoframealetterthatwouldbestaccomplishthisend,andatthesametimewringhissoulwithunavailingregret.

Butshewastoosincereandsadtowritediffuselyandvaguely.

Afterafewmoments\'thoughtsherapidlytracedthefollowinglines:

"Mr.VanBerg:

"Youfirstsawmeataconcert,andyourjudgementofmewascorrect,thoughsevere.Youreyeshavesincebeenverycoldandcritical.

Ihavefollowedyourexploringglances,andhavefoundthatIam,indeed,ignorantandimperfect——thatIwasliketheworm-eatenrosebudthatyoutossedcontemptuouslydownwhereitwouldbetrampledunderfoot.Seldomisthatunfortunatelittleemblemofmyselfoutofmythoughts.IfIdaredtoappealtoGodIwouldsaythatheknowsthatIwouldhavetriedtobloomintoabetterlife,eventhoughimperfectly,ifsomeonehadonlythoughtitworthwhiletoshowmehow.Itistoolatenow.Likemycounterpart,thatyouthrewaway,Ishallsoonbeforgotteninthedust.

"Althoughyourestimatehasbeensoharsh,Iwillnotdisputeit.

Circumstanceshavebeenagainstmefromthefirst,andmyownfollyhasaddedwhateverwaswantingtoconfirmyourunfavorableopinion.

Butto-dayyourthoughtswrongedmecruelly.Youhaveslainallhopeandself-respect.IdonotfeelthatIcanliveafterseeinganhonorablemanlookatmeasyoulookedthisevening.Youbelievedmecapableofflyingtohemanwhoattemptedyourlife——whoinsultedandorphangirl.Youlookedatme,notasalady,butanobjectbeneathcontempt.ThisisahumiliationthatIcannotandwillnotsurvive.Whenyouknowthatihavesoughtdeathratherthanthevillainwithwhomyouareassociatingme,youmaythinkofmemorefavorably.PossiblythememoryofIdaMayhewmayleadyou,whenagainyouseeaworm-eatenbud,tokillthedestroyerandhelptheflowertobloomaswellasitcan.Butnow,likemyemblem,Ihavelostmyonechance.

Thenightwasnowfarspent.Hermother,havingbeenrefusedadmittance,hadfumedandfrettedherselftosleep.Thehousewasverystill.Sheopenedherwindowandlookedout.Cloudsobscuredthestars,anditwasexceedinglydark.

"ThelongnighttowhichI\'mgoingwillbedarkerstill,"sighedtheunhappygirl."Well,Iwillliveonemoreday.To-morrowI

willgooutandsitinthesunlightoncemore.IwishIcouldgonow,foralreadyIseemtofeelthechillofdeath.Oh,howcoldIshallbebythistimeto-morrownight!"

Sheshudderedassheclosedthewindow.

Afterpacingherroomafewmoments,sheexclaimed,recklessly,"Imustsleep——ImustgetthroughwiththetimeuntilIbringtimetoanend,"andshedroppedapowerfulopiateintoaglass.

Holdingitupforamomentwithasmileonherfairyoungfacethatwasterriblebeyondwords,shesaidslowly,"Afterallit\'sonlytakingalittlemore,andthen——nowaking."

ChapterXXXVII.VoicesofNature.

Beforeretiring,Idahadunfastenedherdoor,sothathermother,findinghersleeping,mightleaveherundisturbedaslateaspossiblethefollowingday;andthesunwasalmostinmid-heavenbeforeshebeganslowlytorevivefromherlethargy.

Butasherstupordepartedshebecameconsciousofsuchacutephysicalandmentalsufferingthatshealmostwishedshehadcarriedoutherpurposethenightbefore.Herheadachewasequaledonlybyherheartache,andherwronged,overtaxednervoussystemwasjanglingwithtorturingdiscord.Butwiththepersistenceofasimpleandpositivenaturesheresolvedtocarryoutthetragicprogrammethatshehadalreadyarranged.

Shewasgladtofindherselfalone.Hermother,withherusualsagacity,hadconcludedthatshewouldsleepoffhertroublesassheoftenhadbefore,andsolefthertoherself.

Thepoor,lostchildmadesomepatheticattemptstoputherlittlehouseinorder.Shedestroyedallherletters.Shearrangedherdrawerswithmanysuddenrushesoftearsasvariousarticlescalledupmemoriesofearlierandhappierdays.Amongotherthingsshecameacrossalittlebirthdaypresentthatherfatherhadgivenherwhenshewasbutsixyearsofage,andshevividlyrecalledthehappychildshewasthatday.

"Oh,thatIhaddiedthen!"shesobbed."Whatawretchedfailuremylifehasbeen!Neverwasthereafitteremblemthantheimperfectflowerhethrewaway.IwishIcouldfindthepoor,withered,trampledthing,andthathemightfinditinmyhandwithhisletter."

Shewroteafarewelltoherfatherthatwasinexpressiblysad,inwhichshehumblyaskedhisforgiveness,andentreatedhim,asherdyingwish,toceasedestroyinghimselfwithliquor.

"Butitisofnouse,"shemoaned."Hehaslosthopeandcouragelikemyself,andonecan\'tbeartroubleforwhichthereisnoremedy.I\'mafraidmyactwillonlymakehimdoworse;butIcan\'thelpit."

Tohermothershewrotemerely,"Good-by.ThinkofmeaswellasyoucantillIamforgotten."

Herthoughtsofhermotherwereverybitter,forshefeltthatshehadbeenneglectedasachild,andpermittedtogrowupsofaultyandsuperficialthatsherepelledthemanherbeautymighthaveaidedherinwinning;anditwaschieflythroughhermotherthatherlastbitterandunendurablehumiliationhadcome.

Mrs.MayhewbustledinfromherdrivewithStanton,justbeforedinner,andcommencedvolubly:

"Gladtoseeyouupandlookingsomuchbetter."(Idaknewshewasalmostghastlypalefromtheeffectsoftheopiateandherdistress,butsherecognizedhermother\'stactics.)"Comenow,godownwithmeandmakeagooddinner;thenadrivethisafternoon,towhichIkhasinvitedyou,andyouwilllooklikeyouroldbeautifulself."

"Idonotwishtolooklikemyoldself,"saidIdacoldly.

"Whointheworldeverlookedbetter?"

"Everyonewhohadacultivatedmindandaclearconscience."

"Ideclare,Ida,you\'vechangedsosinceyoucametothecountrythatIcan\'tunderstandyouatall."

"Donottrytoanylonger,mother,foryouneverwill."

"Won\'tyougodowntodinner?"

"No."

"Whynot?"

"Idon\'twishto,foronething;andI\'mtooill,foranother.

Sendmeupsomething,ifit\'snottoomuchtrouble."

"I\'mgoingtohaveadoctorseeyouthisveryafternoon,"saidMrs.

Mayhew,emphatically,asshelefttheroom.

TodoherjusticeshedidsendupaverynicedinnertoIdabeforeeatingherown.Asfarasdoctorsanddinnerswereconcerned,shecoulddoherwholedutyinanemergency.

"Isn\'tIdacomingdown?"whisperedStantontohisaunt.

"No.Ican\'tmakeheroutatall,andshelooksdreadfully.Youmustgoforadoctor,rightafterdinner."

VanBergcouldnotheartheirwords,buttheirominouslooksaddedgreatlytohisdisquietude.HehadbeentooillateasetoseekevenMissBurton\'ssocietyduringthemorning,andhadspentthetimeinmakingasketchofIdaasshestoodinthedoorwaybeforeenteringtheparlorthepreviousevening.

ButJennieBurtondidnotseemtofeelorresenthisneglectintheslightestdegree.Indeed,herthoughts,likehisown,wereapparentlyengrossedwiththeonewhosechairhadbeenvacantsooftenoflate,andwho,whenpresent,seemedsounlikeherformerself.

"Ifearyoudaughterismoreseriouslyindisposedthanyouthink,"

shesaidanxiouslytoMrs.Mayhew.

"I\'mgoingtotakeIdainhand,"repliedthematter-of-factlady.

"SheISill——farmoresothanshe\'lladmit.I\'mgoingtohavethedoctoratonceandputherunderacourseoftreatment."

"Curseitall!"thoughtVanBerg,"thatisjustthetrouble.Shehasbeenunderacourseoftreatmentthatwouldmakeanywomanill,savehermother,andI\'minclinedtothinkthatIwastheveriestquackofthemallinmytreatment."

"Iwishshewouldletmecalluponherthisafternoon,"saidMissBurton,gently.

"Oh,Ithinkshe\'llbegladtoseeyou!——atleastsheoughttobe;"

butitwastooevidentthatMrs.Mayhewwasatlastbeginningtogrowveryanxious,andshemadeasimplermealthanusual.Stantoninhissolicitude,hastenedthroughdinner,andstartedatonceforthephysicianwhousuallyattendedtheguestsofthehouse.

Ida,inthemeantime,hadforcedherselftoeatalittleofthefoodsenttoher,andtheninformingthewomanwhohadchargeoftheirfloorthatshewasgoingoutforawalk,stoledownandoutunperceived,andsoongainedasecludedpaththatledintoanextensivetractofwoodland.

Stantonbroughtthedoctorpromptly,butnopatientcouldbefound.

Allthatcouldbelearnedwasthat"MissMayhewhadgoneforawalk."

"Hercasecannotbeverycritical,"thephysicianremarked,smilingly;

"Iwillcallagain."

Stantonandhisauntlookedateachotherinawaythatprovedthecasewasbeginningtotroublethemseriously.

"Sheknewthedoctorwouldbehere,"saidMrs.Mayhew.

"Ifearhercomplaintisonethatthedoctorscan\'thelp,andthatsheknowsit,"repliedtheyoungman,gloomily."Butyouseemtoknowlessaboutherthananyoneelse.Ishalltrytofindher."

Buthedidnotsucceed.