Thedoctorwastroubledinthinkingoverhisinterviewwiththeyounglady。Shewasfullypossessedwiththeideathatshehaddiscoveredthesecretwhichhaddefiedthemostsagaciousheadsofthevillage。
Itwasofnousetoopposeherwhilehermindwasinanexcitedstate。Buthefeltithisdutytoguardheragainstanypossibleresultsofindiscretionintowhichhereagernessandhertheoryoftheequality，almosttheidentity，ofthesexesmightbetrayher。
Toomuchofthewomaninadaughterofourraceleadshertoforgetdanger。Toolittleofthewomanpromptshertodefyit。Fortunatelyforthislastclassofwomen，theyarenotquitesolikelytobeperilouslyseductiveastheirmoreemphaticallyfemininesisters。
Dr。ButtshadknownLuridaandherfriendfromthedaysoftheirinfancy。HehadwatchedthedevelopmentofLurida\'sintelligencefromitsprecociousnursery-lifetothefullvigorofitstrainedfaculties。HehadlookedwithadmirationonthechildishbeautyofEuthymia，andhadseenhergrowuptowomanhood，everyyearmakinghermoreattractive。Heknewthatifanythingwastobedonewithhisself-willedyoungscholarandfriend，itwouldbemoreeasilyeffectedthroughthemediumofEuthymiathanbydirectadvicetotheyoungladyherself。SothethoughtfuldoctormadeuphismindtohaveagoodtalkwithEuthymia，andputheronherguard，ifLuridashowedanytendencytoforgettheconventionalitiesinhereagerpursuitofknowledge。
Forthedoctor\'shorseandchaisetostopatthedoorofMissEuthymiaTower\'sparentalhomewasaneventstrangeenoughtosetallthetonguesinthevillagegoing。Thiswasoneofthosefamilieswhereillnesswashardlylookedforamongthepossibilitiesoflife。