\"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.