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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38715-h.zip b/38715-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..13ca76d --- /dev/null +++ b/38715-h.zip diff --git a/38715-h/38715-h.htm b/38715-h/38715-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ecfd30 --- /dev/null +++ b/38715-h/38715-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2163 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Singular Metamorphosis, by May Evelyn Skiles. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Singular Metamorphosis, by May Evelyn Skiles + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Singular Metamorphosis + +Author: May Evelyn Skiles + +Release Date: January 30, 2012 [EBook #38715] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SINGULAR METAMORPHOSIS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sue Fleming and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[3]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 285px;"> +<img src="images/cover.png" width="285" height="400" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h1>A Singular Metamorphosis</h1> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>May Evelyn Skiles.</h2> + +<p> </p> +<h4>Published in 1902.</h4> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">A Mystery Intimated</a></td><td align='right'>5</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">She Demands an Explanation</a></td><td align='right'>13</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">The Advent of Ralph and a Rejected Proposal</a></td><td align='right'>26</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">The Meeting</a></td><td align='right'>32</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Misunderstandings Arise</a></td><td align='right'>44</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A Startling Revelation</a></td><td align='right'>52</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">In Which Two Couples Take a Walk</a></td><td align='right'>69</td></tr> + +</table> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[4]</a><br /><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[5]</a></span></p> + +<p> </p> +<h1>A Singular Metamorphosis.</h1> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>A MYSTERY INTIMATED.</h3> + + +<p>Miss Fiske had lived with the Tracys several years, and her incipient +curiosity concerning the mystery pertaining to their household was +becoming more obvious, for mystery there certainly was. At specific +periods of the year, when she advanced towards certain portions of the +old mansion, she had been deterred in her attempts to proceed. It was +not that she was more curious than the average mortal, but no matter how +devoid of innate curiosity one is, the mere fact that there is something +worthy of secrecy immediately produces as a natural sequence a suddenly +awakened interest and a consequent desire of exposition.</p> + +<p>There were only three occupants of the home: the two Tracys, brother and +sister, and Miss Fiske, who had accepted the proffered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[6]</a></span> home on the +death of her father, her only near surviving relative. It is true there +had been an intimation of loving services that might be rendered in +return, to the brother and sister, or, perhaps, she would not have +accepted so readily the proffered home without remuneration, though it +was evident that they needed none, and would have been sorely wounded by +any such offer. Miss Fiske could well have afforded something more +substantial than her presence. While the two families were not +consanguineous, there had been intermarriages, consequently, more than +feelings of friendship existed between them. Mr. Tracy seemed to the +girl of twenty-two almost like a father, guardian he had been till she +arrived at her majority.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Adelina fancied her life similar to that portrayed by writers +of fiction, the old dwelling and its accompanying secretiveness all +tending to foster this belief. It is not my wish to leave the impression +that such a trivial circumstance could effect a radical transformation +in so sensible a young person as the one in question, nor did she linger +over these things to the detriment of better thoughts and occu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[7]</a></span>pations. +There were times, as already mentioned, when it was plain that her +presence in the western wing of the house would be an intrusion. The +cause of this, try as she would, could not be divined. Everywhere else +she was welcomed with joy, for both Harold and Mary Tracy had learned to +look upon her as the best gift vouchsafed to their isolated lives; not +that they had ever been really unhappy, except at rare intervals, but +for years they had held aloof from the social gatherings of Deanmouth, +deeming each other's society all-sufficient until the appearance of a +third person, who immediately upset that theory, in fact, rejuvenating +all that came into contact with her striking personality. Prior to her +arrival at Deanmouth, there had indeed been one who had succumbed to her +influence. Poor young fellow! He had so long brooded over her refusal to +be in turn influenced in like manner by him that his mind had gradually +become unbalanced. There had been an attack of fever; hence, the +combination of these simultaneous misfortunes—sickness and +disappointment—had resulted in the unhinging of a heretofore well +balanced mind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[8]</a></span>Had he not been so weakened mentally and physically by this protracted +illness, this might never have occurred. With no vitality; indeed, no +wish to regain it, what else could have ensued? Miss Fiske was greatly +troubled, reproaching herself constantly, yet conscious of her inability +to act otherwise—at that time, anyway. Had there since been no regret +at the refusal of so great a love? Who will say? none knew of it +assuredly; her uniform cheerfulness precluding all thought of regret or +longing. Were there more resembling her, and thus endeavoring to +ameliorate the woes of others, how far would we be towards the +advancement of the evolution which is the outcome of our existence; but +far be it from me to intimate that there are not many who daily, hourly, +submerge all thought of self in the one desire of abetting others. Was +not that one of the ends for which we were created, else why permitted +to be companions to those with the same sensibilities as ourselves? Miss +Fiske had no notion of embittering her own life or that of others in +bewailing the past, in idle conjectures of what might have been; nor did +she deem it at all necessary to spend her time in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[9]</a></span> futile surmises as to +the future ills that might chance to fall to her lot.</p> + +<p>One day Adelina had returned from her accustomed walk, without finding +Mary in her usual place, waiting to welcome her with her peculiarly +sweet smile, and ready interest in all that appertained to the life of a +young person. Adelina was not to wait long, however, before Mary entered +the room, with cheeks flushed with excitement, but if the former +expected any disclosures or explanations incident to the cause of this +agitation, she was destined to disappointment. Her delicate attempts to +elicit information proved futile, and apparently passed unnoticed, for +to effect revelations of a personal nature from beings inherently +reticent is no facile undertaking. Adelina's question with regard to her +friend's welfare met with no response except a rather positive denial as +to any indisposition. Such a fact as the discomposure of Mary was +unusual enough to call forth comment.</p> + +<p>"No, dear; I am always well, except, perhaps, during the two months you +are away from me. I am afraid I am very selfish," Mary added, with a +loving smile.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dear Mary, the idea of your ever being made selfish by +anything is preposterous. I have often wondered why you and Harold +always persist in my going away at the same time, when I can see how +much you miss me."</p> + +<p>"Old people have their whims. You have lived with them long enough to +find that out, dear." Adelina's assurance that her friend would never +become old was uttered with a quiet air, but there was, nevertheless, an +internal disquietude in the young girl's mind, for which she could not +account.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's up?" she said to herself. "Why is it I am asked, even +urged, to be away the early part of each summer?" In some unaccountable +way she connected this with the reason of her exclusion from one part of +the house, though repeatedly assuring herself that such a conclusion was +irrelevant. Despite her manifold efforts to the contrary, this thought +was continually recurring to her. Mary's repeated asseverations that she +was only suffering from lassitude did not deceive Adelina, for if she +experienced such a sensation her friends had never known her to admit it +before. Adelina was grieved to witness the agitation which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[11]</a></span> marred the +usual serenity of Mary's countenance.</p> + +<p>"Ada, dear, play something restful." Adelina immediately conceded to her +request, and selected from her large repertoire the compositions most +liable to drive away unwelcome thoughts.</p> + +<p>"How well you play," said her auditor. "How do you manage to make those +fingers perform their office so well?"</p> + +<p>"Look at your own, and behold the answer," laughingly replied Adelina. +Miss Tracy blushed with pleasure, she, too, had performed on the piano +wonderfully well.</p> + +<p>The life of this young girl forcibly recalled to her her own youth; +perhaps that is why the years bring to the older members of the great +drama of Life a desire of renewing through others the part as already +enacted by them. Harold, at this juncture, appeared on the scene, the +sound of music, as his sister often told him, seeming to reach him no +matter where he chanced to be. In this instance other thoughts claimed +his attention.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[12]</a></span></p><p>"Adelina," he began, "would you not like to go to some livelier place?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Harold, I've just been away."</p> + +<p>"Your <i>just</i> means a year, nevertheless," he mischievously retorted, +"however flattered we may be by your implying that the time was short."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[13]</a></span></p><p>This was the time annually appointed for her departure.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>SHE DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION.</h3> + + +<p>It all happened so naturally, with such an evident desire for her +happiness and comfort that each time Adelina felt the inability to +frustrate the plans of Harold and Mary. How her friends could feel that +her pleasure was so much involved was more than she could determine.</p> + +<p>"Why should I, who am always well, need change, when you two never go +away?" Adelina asked, then added, without leaving time for an answer, +"it is not quiet for me now."</p> + +<p>"It is strange how lively one curate can make a place. He is really the +only addition to the place that I can think of," rejoined Mr. Tracy, +half satirically. It will be readily seen that he had the man's +universal love of teasing. Though the remark was made in fun, the girl +betrayed confusion, at which Harold wondered. Could it be possible that +she had in so short a time begun to take an interest in this stranger,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[14]</a></span> +or was there some latent thought of that other, whose love for her had +ended so disastrously for himself? Aloud, Harold said, "There's no +accounting for the love affairs of a young girl," which sententious +remark really expressed his inmost thoughts. Miss Fiske had regained her +equanimity ere long, and showed it by her readiness to indulge in +repartee.</p> + +<p>"Harold," she said, "you get worse every year."</p> + +<p>"In what way am I deteriorating? Ah, 'tis looks you doubtless mean," he +ruminatingly replied. "Not only every year, but every day I see my +natural head-gear vanishing." This was said as though he was sorely +wounded, with the pretense of ruefully feeling with caution the head +which proclaimed to all that the extreme paucity of hair was no +exaggeration on his part.</p> + +<p>"That does not indicate a falling away of your lingual powers, however," +saucily replied Adelina.</p> + +<p>"Fie, every one knows my scarcity of words."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, doubtless; when seen as I chanced to view you an hour ago. You +were quietly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[15]</a></span> sleeping over a musty psychology. Yes, I admit you were +quiet then. Were you illustrating the chapter on sleep?"</p> + +<p>"Mary, Mary, can you stand by and hear me thus maligned?"</p> + +<p>"Mary knows better than to take up for you. Already you presume too much +on your past right of guardianship. Even a few moments ago you were +trying to dispose of me by sending me to the farthest corners of the +earth." As "the farthest corners of the earth" meant only a score of +miles, the good-natured controversy ended in laughter. A cloud had come +over the face of Miss Tracy at the last words of Adelina. The latter, on +reviewing her words, could only attribute it to the mention of her +departure. If the truth were known, Miss Tracy had been reminded of +something which had taken place prior to the above conversation. Adelina +knew nothing of this, except in so far as it related to the effect as +displayed on her friend's countenance when she had surprised her by her +sudden entrance to the room. Mary had evidently expected a quiet +retreat, and so was unprepared to greet Adelina in an impassive manner. +Adelina had felt hurt that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[16]</a></span> she was not instantly taken into Mary's +confidence. It was so seldom that Mary showed any disposition towards +concealment with her. Adelina's thoughts were, however, interrupted as +far as this was concerned; for Harold and Mary were again discussing the +contemplated trip, and she did not wish to appear ungrateful to them for +planning what she inwardly objected to most decidedly. The little frown +that followed augured ill for the success of their project, +nevertheless. There was no need, she said, of her going away every May +and June. The mere fact that this took place at stated times each year +was monotonous, to say the least. If a change was necessary, she felt +that a change of time alone would be effectual in procuring good +results. It would break the monotony, if nothing more. This looked like +sheer obstinacy.</p> + +<p>"See what humoring her has done," said Mr. Tracy, with a smile, that did +not conceal the underlying gravity. The gravity Adelina thought was only +the result of her alleged objection to the carrying out of his purposes. +Though she felt half reluctant to persevere in her own interests, she +said to herself that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[17]</a></span> would not be treated like a baby, and disposed +of in this summary manner. Aloud she said, "If you wish to dispose of +me, say so; it certainly looks as though you wished to get rid of me." +Then, ashamed of her petulant utterance, she hastened to add, "It does +seem that I might be permitted to know what concerns myself. What takes +place in my absence is no concern of mine, but to know why that absence +is necessary seems a most natural desire."</p> + +<p>The reference to the taking place of something in her absence was not +premeditated; in fact, Adelina had not considered the significance of +her words. That the others had was obvious, as was revealed by the +questioning looks exchanged between brother and sister, interpreted as +wishing to know whether or not the other deemed a disclosure to be +plausible. Adelina looked from one to the other in amazement. Had she +prepared her words she would not have pronounced any more calculated to +produce consternation. So there was some reason for her being sent away +at a particular time; opposition would not have produced such an effect +as this. She was undecided as to her procedure. She well knew that there +is vic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[18]</a></span>tory in the manner of accepting defeat. If she gracefully retired +she would lose all chance of whatever explanation that might be rendered +to her, though she was dubious that any would be vouchsafed. In the +event of remaining in a quiescent attitude, a revelation might be +effected. If she did the latter and found no hope of gratification +forthcoming, doubtless she would wish she had decided on the other +course. "Well," she argued, "I'll apply my knowledge; somewhere I have +read or heard that when you are undecided what to do, don't do +anything—a most convenient theory, at any rate." Having justified +herself in this conclusion, she assumed a carefully-studied air of +complete indifference, which maneuver would, she hoped, bring about best +results. When she was unoccupied and quiet, too, people generally +inquired if she was sick, which is frequently the case where an +excessive talker is concerned. The desired issue was forthcoming.</p> + +<p>"Adelina," said Mr. Tracy, "we had no idea that you were concerned about +this affair. Had we known that you perceived any alteration in us, we +would long ago have decided that it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[19]</a></span> best to tell you all." Mr. +Tracy looked as though he scarcely knew how to proceed. When once he had +decided on the right course, however, he pursued it without deviation, +without any consideration of personal disinclinations or inconveniences +which might possibly accrue. Those who can thus felicitously form +certain decisions appertaining to their moral obligations, and having +arrived at such decisions, can unswervingly follow the proscribed mode +of conduct, should indeed be content.</p> + +<p>"It is only natural, my child," resumed Mr. Tracy, "that you desire to +have revealed to you what so nearly concerns you." To a stranger Mr. +Tracy's manner might possibly have produced an impression of latent +irritation. The noblest natures, when endeavoring to overcome emotion +have often, unfortunately, inadequate means of expressing or manifesting +the beneficence actually belonging to them. There was no danger of a +misunderstanding here; daily intercourse with a man like this would bear +evidence of his nobility. After a slight interval devoted to +consideration as to his manner of procedure, he said, "Our wish to have +you away during May and June was for your own good."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That I never doubted," replied Adelina, with a grateful look.</p> + +<p>"If you remember, it was three years ago that we first proposed your +leaving us. Did you in no way associate it with something happening the +same year?"</p> + +<p>"Dear Harold, when did anything so momentous take place?" Harold, +reflecting on his inability to prepare Adelina, added:</p> + +<p>"It was the year poor Ralph Bamford was taken ill. Have you never +wondered where he has been since then?" As if to cover her confusion, he +quickly added:</p> + +<p>"But of course you have; your natural kindness would lead you to +conjecture that far. His malady has never rendered him dangerous to +those about him, hence he has remained a portion of each year with us; +the rest of the time with a private family. It was through his ravings +that we learned the circumstances you know so well—better than any. +Since that time we have always had him with us the months when his +sickness is at the worst. Once he caught a glimpse of you—the effect +can readily be imagined. We have deemed it expedient to send you away to +prevent similar attacks."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[21]</a></span> Mr. Tracy had spoken rapidly, as if to +eliminate the supposition that his hearer must be equally garrulous. +Even though the young girl's feelings had not been involved in +sentimentalities, such reminiscences would be painful to any endowed +with the capacity of sympathizing. She was really more indifferent +regarding her own situation than she was at the knowledge of pain +inevitably inflicted on another by herself. The majority of girls would +doubtless have preferred to evince no interest in the young man she had +formerly subjugated. Far from her was the intention of affecting the +anticipated lack of interest in his welfare. Even Harold and Mary would +have thought the desire to avert comment justifiable; however, Adelina +took the opposing course by continuing to interrogate them.</p> + +<p>"Is he at all improved of late? Poor boy. I shall always feel that I am +to blame."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, my dear," returned Harold. "Then nothing but the event of +Ralph's recovery will restore your natural buoyancy?" Mary gave an +admonitory look, in order to curb this levity, and also lest the +reference to a supposititious recovery might raise hopes only to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[22]</a></span> be +disappointed. Mr. Tracy had spoken as if only an ordinary sickness had +been at issue, as though there was no aberration of the mental +functions.</p> + +<p>"Harold, is there anything to warrant us in thinking he will ever be +well again?" Adelina's question was not put as calmly as she deceived +herself into believing. Harold regretted his impulsive speech, and would +feign have recalled it. He cast a beseeching look at his sister to aid +in extricating him from the difficulties attending his folly.</p> + +<p>"Adelina," he said, after giving to his sister a most reproachful look +for not entering the breach, "there can as yet be no certainty of +Ralph's recovery. We often hope where there is nothing to warrant us in +so hoping."</p> + +<p>"You do not expect me to leave, now that I know that he is to be here so +soon?" the rising inflexion alone conveying the idea of interrogation.</p> + +<p>That an answer was expected, however, was made manifest by the girl's +undisguised eagerness to learn the purport of the anticipated reply. +Mary was the first to respond.</p> + +<p>"You are no longer a child, dear, and so must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[23]</a></span> judge for yourself. Would +you prefer remaining?"</p> + +<p>"I would," replied Adelina, then feeling how laconic was the answer, +added, "I would because there can be no detriment to him. I shall be so +careful not to agitate him." This last was said almost pleadingly.</p> + +<p>"And not to let him see you," cautioned Harold.</p> + +<p>"Would he recognize me now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, doubtless, the mind frequently at such times reverts to the past, +and appears momentarily to resume its former activity by similar +reminiscences."</p> + +<p>"Then it would be much better if he did not know me," said Adelina, with +a praiseworthy forgetfulness of self, for it was most obvious that time +had not proved efficacious in diminishing what had once been friendship, +but which now had developed into a feeling not so readily explained, a +feeling which had not matured to the ripeness of love. The boundary line +was there, yet so fine as scarce to be detected. Even that may prove to +be the salvation of many a person's happiness, a barrier, seemingly of +little import, yet serving well those reflectively in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[24]</a></span>clined. To the +impulsive, easily led by pity or personal feelings, it would be of less +moment, save in prolonging the interval of decision—which fact alone +might chance to prove invaluable. Adelina would assuredly have been +placed under the former category, though sympathy did frequently prompt +the desire of effecting what had only the semblance of working the +earliest good. It was not long, however, that indecision troubled her. +Added to her desire of performing some good office for Ralph, there was +in this case a wish to gratify herself. The former cause would have been +sufficient to make Adelina form her opinion about remaining. The ability +of doing good, or even the attempt to do so, without ulterior +motives—unless the knowledge of well-performed duty be called a +motive—was enough to secure Adelina's partisanship in any undertaking +of mercy.</p> + +<p>"So I am to stay," cried she, after the discussion had ended to her +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"You generally do manage to have your way," smilingly replied Mary.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[25]</a></span></p><p>"There; that is what I have been contending for the past hour," put in +Mr. Tracy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed. I thought the argument began by discussing your silence," +returned Adelina.</p> + +<p>"Do any of you know that it is time for tea?" As this seemed remote from +the subject in hand, his young friend exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"That is right, change the subject. Here is one of the many you +addressed who knows how late it is." She was half-way up the stairs +before the others appeared in the hall. Leaning over the banister, she +called back, laughingly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[26]</a></span></p><p>"Talking does make one hungry, Harold; no wonder you mentioned tea. How +you have talked."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENT OF RALPH AND A REJECTED PROPOSAL.</h3> + + +<p>There appeared to be a tacit understanding between the Tracys and +Adelina that there should be no further mention of the advent of Ralph +Bamford. Adelina knew that he was coming soon; that was all. From her +nonchalant manner none could descry her real interest in the affair. +Harold and Mary were not deceived, however, by any outward calmness. Too +well did they know the young girl not to be cognizant of her deep +capacity for feeling, even though there was no reason for emotion other +than that of sympathy, that sympathy which would have been rendered to +any to whom it was requisite or welcome.</p> + +<p>A few days following the conversation last related, Adelina was walking +on the lawn, when through the shrubbery she espied a carriage which had +stopped just outside the drive. From the carriage a tall man first +alighted, and paused to wait for a second person to issue from the +in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[27]</a></span>terior. The former was soon joined by one who was clearly a much +younger man, though even from Adelina's point of view, it could be seen +that he was not as agile as his senior. "Ralph," the young girl gasped, +then added, "yes, it is he." Suddenly she felt the most unreasoning +dread of being discovered, not only by the newcomers, but by anyone, for +that matter. It was natural that she should wish her presence to escape +Ralph's observation until a more opportune time, fearing the result of +such a recognition would be of the greatest detriment to him physically, +mentally, she did not even allow herself to think. It was strange how +immediate was Adelina's recognition of the young man—not, as was +afterwards learned, that he had suffered in looks—but a failure to +recognize him at that distance would have been most natural, despite the +knowledge of his near arrival. Now that he had come, her first and only +impulse was to put as much space as possible between him and herself. +She ran until she reached a rustic seat, where she sank breathless, +laughing at her absurd timidity—that trait not being a dominant +characteristic. Ere long she saw a young man emerging from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[28]</a></span> one of the +summer houses. He seemed to be engaged in a fruitless search. When he in +turn discovered Adelina, a glad look of triumph followed.</p> + +<p>"I've been looking everywhere for you," he said, quickly finding a place +beside her.</p> + +<p>"Where did you expect to find me? Under the seats of the summer house, +most likely," Adelina retorted.</p> + +<p>"I think I've looked everywhere, as I said."</p> + +<p>This remark was made with the most open assumption of patience; indeed, +so transparent was the effort that Adelina greeted the reply with a +merry laugh, in which Mr. Burnett joined, perforce.</p> + +<p>"Adelina," he said, "I have wanted an opportunity of seeing you alone."</p> + +<p>"There; it's coming," said the girl to herself, resignedly.</p> + +<p>"Will you not reconsider your answer of last Friday?" Mr. Burnett +continued.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[29]</a></span></p><p>"Don't ask me to reconsider, or even remember all of my thoughtless +speeches," remarked Adelina faintly, knowing the rendition of the +programme to follow as though the parts had been assigned to each one.</p> + +<p>"You might at least listen," pleaded the young man.</p> + +<p>"Listen," she said vehemently, "why, I could not very well help it, as I +have not yet lost the sense of hearing."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is sufficient answer; if you loved you could not be +frivolous."</p> + +<p>"I do love," she said with such simplicity, that it is small wonder if +Mr. Burnett felt encouraged and eagerly asked:</p> + +<p>"Is that true, Adelina?"</p> + +<p>Seeing her mistake, Adelina hastened to add:</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; I love Harold and Mary, and——"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! I thought you meant some one."</p> + +<p>"Meaning yourself? No doubt the two mentioned would be delighted at +being designated nonentities." Then, seeing that the young man was +really wounded, she said impatiently:</p> + +<p>"Why can't you love some one else?"</p> + +<p>The fact that she was inflicting pain unwillingly and helplessly made +her half angry with him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[30]</a></span></p><p>"There are plenty of nice girls—Lucy, Alice——"</p> + +<p>"That will do," Mr. Burnett interrupted with dignity. "Love is not made +to order."</p> + +<p>"Not even when I order it?" Adelina said, with a bewitching air. Then, +suddenly discovering her advantage, added, "If you really care for me +you would do as I wish."</p> + +<p>But for the timely arrival of a servant on the scene, bearing a message +for Miss Fiske, there is no determining when the above conversation +would have ended. One of the disputants was longing to put an end to it +as speedily as possible, or at least, as quickly as was consistent with +even a show of politeness; the other was putting forth every effort to +prolong it without impunity. To risk all would be to lose all. He was +not certain that there was anything to lose, that anything had ever been +gained. For all the benefit accruing to either from the conversation it +might as well have never taken place. As they leisurely strolled towards +the house, both remained silent, neither desiring to break the silence, +whether from feelings of constraint or from varied emotions, it would be +difficult to learn. While Adelina's thoughts were, perhaps, less sad +than those of her admirer, they were at least, far from enviable, +commingled as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[31]</a></span> were with this recent event, and the one of former +years. Doubtless she was thinking partly of what Mr. Burnett was +thinking of her, and what she would say to that other whose arrival she +had just witnessed. Tom Burnett had evidently concluded that "the better +part of valor is discretion," for there was no pursuance of the talk, +even when he found they were nearing the doorway. Only a quiet "good-by" +from him. That was all he said to the girl who knew she had his +happiness in her keeping, but whom he never once blamed, knowing with +her conscience was all, and that she would follow its dictates, meriting +thus always the love he had chosen to bestow upon her. Chosen? No; +surely, that word is misapplied, for who ever chooses to love? Does love +not rather come unawares to the non-suspecting? and does not the word +rightly interpreted tell of an utter forgetfulness of self, implying +only disinterested feelings; precluding entirely the idea of selection, +which alone would mean something premeditated?</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[32]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE MEETING.</h3> + + +<p>Adelina found Mary awaiting her, and, though, secretly delighting in the +interruption, learned that there was really no reason for her being +summoned, except Mary's wish to discuss recent events, and the desire to +hasten a meeting between the two young people. The young girl read the +question Mary longed to ask, and answered it accordingly, "I have seen +him."</p> + +<p>"He is much better than we ever dared to expect. He seems never to have +been troubled by the strange malady we know has existed, save for one +illusion. Twice he has spoken of his indebtedness to us for the care of +his brother. It is clearly a case of mistaken identity. Ralph thinks the +man, for whom we have cared, was his brother. As I said, his loss of +such consciousness, is all that remains of his former trouble. Perhaps +he did have a brother," Mary ended thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Adelina, "he has mentioned a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[33]</a></span> brother, though I have +often wondered why he never told me more concerning him."</p> + +<p>"The gentleman who accompanied Ralph is his physician, Dr. Ellis. He +said that Ralph was so anxious to come, and that he was so imprudent he +needed some one to watch him."</p> + +<p>"Did Dr. Ellis use the word 'watch' before Ralph?" asked Adelina +indignantl +y.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but only to convey physical deficiency."</p> + +<p>"And where is Ralph now?" asked Adelina.</p> + +<p>"With Harold, in the library. Let us go there now. Dr. Ellis left on the +plea of other engagements, but partly, I think, to leave us alone with +Ralph this first evening. Aside from professional feelings, he seems to +take the greatest interest in Ralph."</p> + +<p>By this time the speakers had reached the library door, where Mary +paused as if to give her young friend a moment for preparation. Adelina, +however, desired to make a speedy entrance, which would admit of no time +for deliberation. She felt that if she had time to consider the +prospective meeting, a feeling of constraint would follow. The most +carefully prepared language remains unuttered when one is brought face +to face with the contingency.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[34]</a></span> Memory fails, leaving only a trace of +forgotten eloquence, which is sufficient to render us speechless, +knowing as we do, that aught said now, must ever be inferior to the +expressions formulated in quieter moments. Adelina straightway entered +the room. Ralph turned quickly, as though in recognition of her step. He +came eagerly forward and took the proffered hand, looking searchingly +into the girl's eyes. What he read there was not the indifference he had +contemplated, prior to his arrival at Deanmouth. A faint flush suffused +Adelina's cheek, and, as if to conceal her emotion, she uttered some +polite triviality, which, it is safe to say, was not remembered by her. +Harold left them, ostensibly on some forgotten errand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[35]</a></span></p><p>Adelina looked after his retreating form longingly, but remembered that +Mary had not forsaken her. To her surprise, she found, on glancing +around, that Mary had not even entered with her. Ralph Bamford had +differing views as to the desirability of additional company, as was +testified by his readiness to enter into conversation, while inwardly +blessing Harold for his considerate departure.</p> + +<p>"It is such a pleasure to be here," he said. "How I have longed to see +you." Then, afraid of his own audacity, emended the last sentence by +saying: "Yes, I have often thought of the old place and its occupants."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that we might have been mentioned first, besides it is +not long since you saw the place."</p> + +<p>"Only a matter of three years. There is, I believe, one accepted mode +for the computation of time, which is universally utilized by the +enlightened, however we may disagree in the lapse of it. To me three +years is no short time."</p> + +<p>"What can you mean? You were——" Adelina broke off, horrified at her +want of thought; for had she not promised to be all carefulness?</p> + +<p>Already she found herself endeavoring to recall to Ralph his other +sojourns at the same place under such inauspicious circumstances. She +could not proceed with the self-interrupted sentence, even though she +was aware that the pause was noticed by Ralph; yet, surely, it was but +natural that Adelina should remind him of his former visits to the +place. He had seemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[36]</a></span> so like his old self that she was certain he would +remember the visit of only a year ago. She scarce knew what to answer, +when Ralph said with a most surprised look:</p> + +<p>"What is the matter? Have I returned sooner than you expected?"</p> + +<p>There was reproach as well as surprise in the query. Adelina was pained +by the lapse of memory, supposedly inconsistent with the soundness of +mind she had commenced to think had been restored to him. Of course the +young man attributed her silence to indifference, which state she was +far from feeling. The situation was certainly a strange one. There was +the lover hanging on the anticipated reply, and longing for a denial of +his hasty words; the woman fearing to utter some word which would either +wound him, or intensify the mental failure of which the young man +himself was totally oblivious. As soon as Adelina perceived her error, +she tried to retrieve it by diverting Ralph's attention, refraining +carefully from setting him aright concerning his mistaken asseveration; +but the young man was not to be diverted by other channels of thought +from the question at issue. Having noted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[37]</a></span> Adelina's confusion, he had +asked for the cause, and finding one question unanswered, had +supplemented it by another. He was growing impatient. Why did Adelina +act so unlike herself? Surely, there was nothing to conceal. It was not +as though he was a stranger; though, to his amazement, he found he was +being treated as such; why, he had known her capable of giving the most +evasive replies in the sweetest manner to the most direct +interrogations, and never had she appeared so ill at ease to him. Did +two persons ever more thoroughly misunderstand each other, or so fail in +penetrating the other's thoughts? There could not even be a +reconciliation when no wrong had been committed; there was only the +breach which neither could cross. Only a feeling of misery, blank and +hopeless remained, which it seemed time only could assuage.</p> + +<p>Adelina felt as strongly as Ralph her utter inability to talk; the mere +fact that she was so thoroughly misunderstood widened the breach. If she +could only have explained to Ralph the cause of her hesitation,—but no, +she knew she never could.</p> + +<p>Even if Ralph was ever his true self again,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[38]</a></span> Adelina knew that even to +spare herself she would never hurt him by such an explanation, an +explanation entailing a revelation of the symptoms and various stages of +his disease. If it necessitated such indelicacy, she felt that she would +prefer being misjudged. This was only theory. She had not been put to +the test. How can we answer for what we shall do in a given instance? +Adelina was the first to rally, and was beginning to speak, when the +door-knob was imperatively rattled by something intent upon letting its +wants be known.</p> + +<p>"It must be Watch," said Adelina, after she had discovered whence the +sound issued.</p> + +<p>"An intelligent dog," answered Ralph, "and certainly very active for his +years. I am ashamed to say I had almost forgotten his existence."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't if you stayed long," said Adelina, as she hastened to the +door. Accustomed as she was to the rather rough canine greetings, she +concealed herself behind the door without looking at the supposed dog as +she opened a way for his entrance. A small voice said, "I want to tome +in."</p> + +<p>"That much is evident," laughingly put in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[39]</a></span> Ralph, as Adelina emerged +from her hiding place.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Pet?" she asked. "Come and speak to Mr. Bamford."</p> + +<p>"Is oo mawwied to him?" asked the child, innocently.</p> + +<p>"If we only were," said Ralph to himself, perhaps not intended to be in +so low a tone as not to reach the desired quarter.</p> + +<p>"Do oo weally want to be?" questioned the child, of Ralph, who had drawn +her onto his knee.</p> + +<p>"Did you come alone?" was the irrelevant answer.</p> + +<p>"'Es; I'se not afwaid. I tan thee my houth fwom here."</p> + +<p>"Our rector, Mr. Bayne, is her father," explained Adelina. "We are the +greatest of friends," she added.</p> + +<p>"Who? You and Mr. Bayne?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No, the child, of course."</p> + +<p>Pet, not caring to be excluded from the conversation, and feeling a +monopoly unfair, persisted in obtaining a solution to the subject +uppermost in her baby mind.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Won't oo tell Pet?" she said. "Do oo want to det mawwied?"</p> + +<p>Receiving still no reply, and in no wise diverted from her curiosity, +she continued to enlarge on the subject.</p> + +<p>"Papa'll mawwy oo. I'll wun ast him now. Pet fordets," she said, +slipping off Ralph's knee ere he was aware of her intention.</p> + +<p>"Oh, stop her," cried Adelina, with energy, but so horrified that she +could do nothing herself to intercept the childish form. Ralph hurried +to the door just in time, and caught the child in his arms.</p> + +<p>She looked disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Pet fordets," she reiterated.</p> + +<p>"You will never get me to believe that," laughed Ralph, remembering her +former perseverance. Seeing that Pet did not understand, he kissed her +and said he wanted her to stay with him. Adelina had retired to the +farthest corner of the room. At first, she was half angry with the +child; but later, amusement was the predominating sensation. Presently +Pet's voice was heard asking where Ada was, so the latter stepped +forward. Ralph's eyes were dancing mischievously.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[41]</a></span></p> +<p>"You do not mind the baby's prattle, surely?" said he, lest Adelina +would deem his ill-concealed merriment untimely and unprecedented.</p> + +<p>The child had brought a change of atmosphere. The two older persons +seemed to breathe a different air. Adelina had been troubled at Pet's +extreme candor; though, meanwhile admiring the parents who so early had +instilled that virtue. Pet had looked with wide-eyed wonder at the two +who could wish her to keep anything from her father.</p> + +<p>"I always tell papa evwything," she urged.</p> + +<p>"But this is not about yourself, dear," said Adelina, trying to put it +so the little one would understand.</p> + +<p>"But I thaw it," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Saw it?" said Adelina; then added severely, "you saw nothing."</p> + +<p>"I did thee he wanted to mawwy oo," sobbed the child, "'tause he looked +happy."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[42]</a></span></p><p>Adelina found herself floundering in a sea of difficulties, so for +answer, only kissed the child; and, to put an end decisively to further +argument, said:</p> + +<p>"Pet, dear, let us see if Ralph has goodies in his pocket."</p> + +<p>The little one understood. Whatever wrong she had committed was +forgiven. She glanced at Ralph, for it never occurred to her that +Adelina's suggestion might prove fallacious. Her implicit confidence in +another's word gave evidence of the training received; that the child +was not accustomed to being deceived in trifles was obvious. When it was +found that Ralph could produce the desired sweetmeats, Adelina asked, +teasingly:</p> + +<p>"Have you never overcome your boyish weakness?"</p> + +<p>"Fortunately for you I have not. Your veracity was at stake. It would +have served you right if I had refused to resign the desired articles, +after your putting an abrupt terminus to an absorbing topic, ingeniously +introduced."</p> + +<p>Such audacity in referring to the subject Adelina fondly thought she had +brought to an ignominious end quite took away her breath.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[43]</a></span></p><p>"Yes," pursued Ralph reflectively, "that child is a genius; added to +that is the perseverance requisite to complete success."</p> + +<p>"Those two are incorrigible," murmured Adelina.</p> + +<p>"No, we're not," objected the irrepressible Pet, "we're in chair. Tan't +oo thee uth?" She had all of the child's impatience of incorrect +statements.</p> + +<p>Ralph shook with laughter at this naive utterance.</p> + +<p>"I'm doin' home," said Pet, waiting, however, with the expectation of an +invitation to remain.</p> + +<p>As her elders vouchsafed no reply, she repeated the information, and +slid off Ralph's knee.</p> + +<p>Ralph who felt that he had probably gone far enough, simply expressed a +desire to have her return very soon.</p> + +<p>"I will tome," she promptly answered. Then, waiting to be kissed by +both, she ran off, calling back sweetly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[44]</a></span></p><p>"I'll not tell papa if oo don't want me to."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>MISUNDERSTANDINGS ARISE.</h3> + + +<p>That night was a restless night for Adelina. There were mysteries she +could not unravel. She could not reconcile Ralph's lapse of memory with +the perfect self-poise subsequently evinced. She knew that a single +instance of forgetfulness would not have been perceived by her with such +readiness had it not been for antecedent knowledge of mental +derangement. Memory had not proved treacherous regarding any other fact, +however trivial, which had been mentioned in his hearing. There was +another thing which troubled Adelina—Ralph's assumption that Harold and +Mary were the benefactors, not of himself, but of the brother whom +neither had seen. She had not wanted to talk the matter over again with +her friends. It would only accentuate the sad feelings of each. She +wanted time (of which commodity she soon had a sufficiency) to think it +all over in the solitude of her own room. Once there, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[45]</a></span> found it +equally as difficult to arrive at any just estimate of the truth. She +dreamed that Ralph appeared with his brother, and commanded her sternly +to choose between them.</p> + +<p>She awoke with a shudder to find the sun shining brightly in her window, +as if to beseech her to come out and enjoy his glories. She quickly +responded to the manifest entreaty, only too thankful to discover that +the long night—a night of troubled thought and dreams, was over. When +at intervals of consciousness, she had tried to concentrate her vagrant +thoughts to some purpose, she could only vaguely feel that there was +something she was incapable of adverting; and so, when morning came at +last, she was determined to accept such diversion as was offered.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, arrayed in one of her most becoming gowns, she descended +the stairs, and walked out on the veranda. It was characteristic of her, +that when she was inwardly troubled she invariably took the greatest +care in making her toilet, perhaps feeling that her spirits might +ultimately assume the nature of her garb.</p> + +<p>Adelina was soon joined by Ralph, who looked radiantly happy. He +evidently thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[46]</a></span> that her propinquity was enough for the present, let +the future bring what it might. He had so long been denied a sight of +her, that it is to be doubted whether he even gave that future a +thought. His buoyancy could not be otherwise than infectious; added to +that were Adelina's strenuous efforts to shake off the unwelcome +thoughts of the preceding night, to which she knew that she would +succumb if left to herself—without the incentive of trying to appear +cheerful before others. Those imbued with such altruism have some +recompense even in this world, where reward so seldom seems to come for +right doing—that of submerging their own woes in the happiness or +reverses of others.</p> + +<p>It was later in the morning that Adelina had further cause for sorrow. +She had gone to her room for a volume of poems in order to find a +quotation which Ralph had laughingly insisted she had misquoted. +Adelina, in turn, asserted that he would regret that she had gone only +to prove him wrong. Sad he certainly did look when she returned.</p> + +<p>He was holding a bit of paper in his hand, as if deliberating whether he +ought to continue its perusal or not. He was standing where she left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[47]</a></span> +him, but how different were his expression and manner. When she turned +to him with a look of inquiry, his only answer was:</p> + +<p>"I had not thought you could deceive me."</p> + +<p>Deceive him? When had she ever deceived him? She knew she had never done +that, even before she had begun to care for him, and now that she was +beginning to care, surely it was cruel to accuse her thus.</p> + +<p>He mistook her silence for confirmation of her guilt, for was it not her +own handwriting which he held? And could you censure him for believing +his senses?</p> + +<p>Adelina was secretly blaming him for this lack of faith, which was only +natural as she was the one doubted, and consequently, knew her own +innocence. She could not prove the falsity of her alleged imperfection, +until she heard the charges against her, and her pride kept her silent +for a time. She disdained the idea of asking the question which would +tell her all. How beautiful she looked. Even Ralph was thinking of her +beauty, her proud, refined face appealing as it did to his sense of the +esthetic. How he hated himself for worshiping the external beauty until +he could penetrate beneath the sur<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[48]</a></span>face and see if she were really +worthy of being revered. Ralph viciously crumpled the unoffending paper +in his hand. Had it not been the cause of sudden, maddening pain to him? +Adelina's absence had, at most, been only a question of a few minutes. +Her bewildered look, on her return, ought to have been sufficient to +reassure Ralph, and that probably was the reason that he eventually held +the fragment of paper towards her. Adelina took it, and with a blanching +face, read an excerpt from her journal. It had probably blown from the +open window of her room. She remembered that she had carelessly left her +writing on a desk quite near the window. The writing was to the purport +that she loved some one whose mind was affected, but the bare statement +was unaccompanied by any appellation which might lead to its +elucidation.</p> + +<p>Adelina's first thought was: "Does he know he has been in that state?" +But, of course, he must, or he would not have applied the sentence to +himself. She could see that such a circumstance would wound him +intensely, for she now believed he was aware of his deficiency.</p> + +<p>She felt so regretful of her own carelessness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[49]</a></span> that she seemed to +overlook the fact that he had accused her most wrongfully, and was +desirous of making such reparation as lay in her power.</p> + +<p>"Ada, you might at least have told me there was another."</p> + +<p>"Another what?" she returned with astonishment.</p> + +<p>It was Ralph's turn to betray excessive surprise.</p> + +<p>"If you loved some one else you could have told me. That, surely, was +due me."</p> + +<p>"To whom do you think my unfortunate words apply?"</p> + +<p>It suddenly occurred to her that it might be possible for Ralph to +assume that a third person was involved. She was glad that Ralph should +be in ignorance of his real condition, for she now began to think he +was; yet she certainly could not do herself the injustice of letting +Ralph think she had voluntarily deceived him to the extent of permitting +him to believe there was another in whom she was interested.</p> + +<p>The previous evening Adelina had acknowledged to Ralph, in response to +his eager inquiry, the fallacy of what she was pleased to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[50]</a></span> term his +absurd beliefs in her power to attract others—not that he believed it, +but he <i>had</i> been led to believe that she did not love any one else. It +began to dawn on Adelina that Ralph might not have applied the words to +himself at all. Here was a dilemma. She could not let Ralph impute such +a deception to her. A thought flashed across her mind—why not let Dr. +Ellis impart the whole sad story to Ralph? She felt that it was cowardly +in her, and yet she realized her own impotence to assume the task. A +more potent cause towards disinclination for the undertaking was her +complete ignorance of the effect of such a disclosure to Ralph. Poor, +bewildered fellow. It seemed to him that everyone had changed. Adelina's +eyes filled with tears. She averted her face, not too soon, however, for +Ralph to note their existence.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," he said brokenly and humbly; "but this means so much to +me."</p> + +<p>"Here is Dr. Ellis now. Ask him to tell you all."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Ellis? What can he know of our affairs?"</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, Ralph, do as I say. If he re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[51]</a></span>fuses to tell you, then I +must also. I leave you with him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[52]</a></span></p><p>Giving a few hasty words of explanation to the doctor, she hastened +away.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>A STARTLING REVELATION.</h3> + + +<p>Adelina hurried away in order to disclose to Harold and Mary the +decision she had made; namely, the wisdom of no longer concealing from +Ralph his previous condition. On first thoughts, this seemed most +unwise; and yet, assuredly, it would be far less cruel than to let Ralph +continue in the belief that there existed in the woman he loved that +which would lead him to an entire loss of confidence. Adelina knew that +if she persisted in claiming the matter inexplicable, it would only +throw a deeper shadow on the affair, and she could not make the pretense +that Ralph had no right to question her.</p> + +<p>"Adelina," said Harold, "this appears the right thing, in fact, the only +thing to be done. I think uncertainty is one of the worst ills that +falls to the lot of mortals. Now there will be at least something +tangible. I am sure poor Ralph has found something wanting in all of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[53]</a></span> +us. The hardest part was in deciding what should be done. And now, that +you have decided, do not trouble yourself with the outcome."</p> + +<p>A useless caution, for he was not destined to profit by it himself.</p> + +<p>"But, was I right in shifting the responsibility on Dr. Ellis?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; none but a physician would be capable of understanding the +effect on Ralph's constitution. Ellis has also made psychology a +life-long study."</p> + +<p>"How did you discover that? Through your natural curiosity, of course," +returned Adelina, with a feeble attempt to smile.</p> + +<p>It could readily be seen that no matter how much the three conversed, +thus trying to divert the other's thoughts, each was thinking of the +conversation transpiring not far from them.</p> + +<p>"I cannot think Ralph will be the worse for this knowledge," said Mary, +unconsciously ignoring the fact that Harold and Adelina had opened the +way for a change of topic, by reverting to the subject which more +closely concerned them than a biography of Dr. Ellis,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[54]</a></span> worthy man that +he was. They little knew how much he was gleaning from the interview +with Ralph, and how such knowledge would affect all of them; how Ralph +had information which they were longing to hear, but which he presumed +was already known to them. A stranger may often bring new light upon a +subject, coming as he does without the tacit understanding of past +occurrences which exists among those closely related, or thrown +continually into each other's society. In this case, it would probably +not have devolved upon the newcomer to penetrate the truth, had it not +been that Adelina was anxious to have the matter settled in some way; +for the suspense accompanying her utter ignorance of the reason of +Ralph's strange conduct was telling even upon her strong constitution, +when she might have withstood the ravages of physical pain alone. If she +was miserable, there was certainly cause for the same emotion in Ralph. +He knew of nothing to explain, while Adelina was deterred from rendering +any explanation solely on his account. The explanation was simple +enough, though most unusual. Much anxiety would have been spared the +whole household, had anyone thought of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[55]</a></span> investigating; but who dreams of +asking for information supposedly already possessed? Soon the doctor +entered, pausing on the threshold before he advanced into the room, to +say meekly:</p> + +<p>"What is the countersign? May I enter without it?"</p> + +<p>This was said with an assumption of profound timidity at the stillness +which reigned supreme, and which he affected to believe was exacted by +the inmates of the room.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; come in," said Adelina, who was the only one ready to reply.</p> + +<p>Youth often takes the initiative, not from egoism, but its environment +may have fostered the tendency to fill the hiatus which otherwise might +ensue. So much dependence had ever been placed upon Adelina's executive +ability, that this, accompanied by her friends' desire to produce her +happiness in every conceivable way, and to advance her mentally as well, +had produced in the girl most naturally the capability to meet all the +demands of society, also contingencies of greater import.</p> + +<p>"Where did you leave Ralph?" she continued.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he has gone on one of his interminable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[56]</a></span> rambles," was the response. +"For the last few months he has contended that long walks were the one +thing necessary for physical fatigue. All of my theories have been set +at naught. It was in vain that I reminded him of my superior knowledge. +In the end he almost succeeded in making me believe he was right, such +is the power of continued effort. Whenever he found he was regaining +strength, he would undo all of my work, remonstrate as I would."</p> + +<p>Something had surely happened since Adelina left the two friends.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ellis now bore a most radiant look, which was not easy to reconcile +with the interview she knew had taken place.</p> + +<p>"Now, at least," resumed Dr. Ellis, "I am enabled to understand things +which baffled even my acumen."</p> + +<p>Of course, he ended by making all laugh, which they felt quite ready to +do, for there was something in the doctor's manner which invited mirth. +Each one knew that had there not been an alleviating solution of the +trouble, the informant would not have been able to throw off the +despondency which was fast be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[57]</a></span>coming the possession of all. And now, +that something had happened, the reaction was great, and had to be +manifested in some manner by the party. Despite the learning of Dr. +Ellis, Ralph's case had certainly puzzled him. Before undertaking the +case he had been warned of the condition of his prospective patient; +otherwise, the doctor would not have been on the outlook for alarming +symptoms.</p> + +<p>It chanced, however, that such a warning had been entirely unnecessary, +for the alarming symptoms had never come. Ralph's condition, on the +whole, had been encouraging, except as Dr. Ellis stated, when there had +been weakness resulting from over-exertion, a natural sequence.</p> + +<p>Ralph had often alluded to his residence in Australia, and Dr. Ellis +knew him to be ingenuous; and, besides, there could be no reason in +wishing to prove an alibi. Dr. Ellis had it on the authority of +well-known persons that at that identical time his young friend was, +unfortunately, at one of the most prominent hospitals of America. In +attributing similar statements of Ralph to mental weakness, the +physician experienced a startling sensation. Suppose there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[58]</a></span> had been +some mistake. He secretly believed Ralph's mind to be as free from +disease as his own; how it had been with Ralph before his acquaintance +with him, Dr. Ellis was unprepared to say. The latter, believing himself +to be competent to form some estimate of analogous cases, had in +response to an urgent appeal from certain hospital officials, taken the +affair into his own hands; consequently Dr. Ellis was scarcely to be +censured for the conditions which arose. A letter had been sent +notifying him that his services would not be requisite; that the late +patient had died after a painless illness incompatible with the usual +attacks accompanied by superior strength. The letter did not reach Dr. +Ellis. He learned that his surmises had been correct; for Ralph had just +enlightened him; not only sanctioning his conclusions but revealing to +him that which truly gave more pleasure than the veriest mines of +knowledge would. Now he knew that the esteem that he had given his young +friend because of admirable characteristic traits might be endorsed by +respect for his friend's mental ability as well.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ellis felt that it was time to share his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[59]</a></span> newly acquired knowledge +with the others who were equally interested in Ralph, so he straightway +proceeded to relieve the suspense he knew that they were enduring.</p> + +<p>"I think that Ralph purposely absented himself. I proposed that I should +be the one to give an account of our conversation," he said, addressing +his anxious auditors. "You, of course, know that Ralph had a twin +brother. I did not, however, learn it until a few moments ago. Well, +that brother died six months ago, just the time I was first brought into +contact with Ralph. True, the latter mentioned the death of his brother, +and occasional depression seemed only natural. I was, however, on the +alert to discover any sign of what I had been told was Ralph's malady. +Not once did such a sign appear. He told me he had recovered from fever +just before his return to America. As you, in your letter had spoken of +fever also, Miss Tracy, his information coincided with yours, except in +point of time. I first thought that there was a lapse of time of which +he was oblivious. This set me to thinking, and while I believed ere long +that his mind was unaffected, the differing accounts given me, together +with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[60]</a></span> chronological errors, were most bewildering. How could so many +believe themselves in the right? Ralph certainly had confidence in +himself, and your statements were not to be doubted, Miss Tracy. Then, +too, the hospital officials would not have given an incorrect account of +his sojourn in their retreat."</p> + +<p>"It must have been annoying, certainly," interposed Mary, with ready +sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and to think proper investigation would have spared each one of us +so much," returned the doctor, with emotion. "It does not seem that we +ought to censure ourselves very much, for we never dreamed of +investigating what we were positive was correct. Ralph's brother, +Edward, died in the hospital, believed by all to be Ralph himself. I +left the city soon, accompanied by the real Ralph. He, little knowing +that you had seen so much of Edward, decided to have him buried in the +place where he had died. Ralph must have been overcome with sorrow, for, +otherwise, he would have written of his loss to you, his friends. He had +a short illness almost simultaneously. Though he was able soon to walk +rather long distances,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[61]</a></span> for an acknowledged sick person, he really has +been far from strong."</p> + +<p>"Ralph was never one to parade his griefs," said Adelina, "probably, he +thought he would see us soon, and give the news of his brother."</p> + +<p>"Edward, alias Ralph, was never dangerous to those around him. That was +why he was never taken to an asylum. There were intervals of perfect +sanity," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Ralph's untimely return to America has caused all of this miserable +misunderstanding. Unfortunate, too, was the miscarriage of the letter +which informed me of Edward's demise. When I discovered Ralph in the +hospital, I took him away as quietly as possible, having already that +authority. Ralph answered to all descriptions, and the authorities +having already written to me, never thought of repeating their +information. Probably I was looked on as a personal friend of Ralph. +They knew him to be all right as far as mind was concerned. How could +they have thought of explaining the affair to two sane people? Ralph was +not moved to a different town until he was stronger. He did not resent +my care of him, but accompanied me home. Had I noted anything strange,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[62]</a></span> +I should have reconciled the strange phenomenon with what I believed was +my patient's condition."</p> + +<p>Dr. Ellis here took time to recover himself, and remained looking +passively out of the window, until Adelina asked:</p> + +<p>"Where, then has Ralph been all of this time? In Australia?"</p> + +<p>Now that she had heard all, she seemed unable to take the evidence her +aural sense had given her.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has been in Australia until a few months ago. Hereafter, I +shall require of every man his brother's name before making his +acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"How did Ralph take it when you had told him all?" asked Adelina.</p> + +<p>"He was disinclined to believe the whole story, of course. After I had +succeeded in convincing him of its authenticity, he simply said, 'What a +friend you have been.' You can imagine how I felt. To have believed such +things of a friend, and to be exalted for it, too, made me very +uncomfortable. The dear fellow forgave. I felt it in a single grasp of +the hand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[63]</a></span> Then he left me at break-neck speed, his usual way when he is +agitated."</p> + +<p>"But how is it that we never heard from Ralph, at all? I mean the real +Ralph."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said the doctor, looking towards Miss Tracy, "he did write, +and, in turn, wondered at the silence in your quarter."</p> + +<p>"The letter was not received—if it only had been," said Mary, with a +sigh. "After all, the whole trouble comes from the loss of two letters; +the one to you, Dr. Ellis, and the one to us."</p> + +<p>"The letter was accompanied by a small photograph of Ralph, which would +immediately have disclosed to all of you the singular resemblance +between the two brothers."</p> + +<p>"Well, what made Ralph persist in thanking us for caring for his +brother? How did he know that he had ever been in Deanmouth?" asked Mr. +Tracy.</p> + +<p>"I think that was learned from mutual friends just before his arrival; +otherwise, he would have telegraphed the news of his brother's death. At +that time he was not aware of your kind attention to Edward."</p> + +<p>"I must be very obtuse," said Adelina, "but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[64]</a></span> I seem unable to take it +all in. How was it you discovered Edward at all?" she asked, turning to +Harold and Mary.</p> + +<p>"Notices appeared in the papers," answered Harold, "to which we paid +little attention at first, even though the name was precisely that of +Ralph; however, when the notices continued to appear and the friends of +the young man palpably declined to come forward, it occurred to us that +the matter should be investigated. It was, and behold the result. I +wonder now, if in answering the advertisements, we did not do it almost +entirely from feelings of sentimentality. We soon thought ourselves +justified in pursuing inquiries, and yet, how wrong was the conclusion +we drew."</p> + +<p>"I think I see the subject of our talk now," interposed the doctor, +"surely, some one ought to go and meet him."</p> + +<p>His hand approached his face with a futile attempt to hide the smile +which would come. Adelina's face was soon mantled with a slight blush; +but, nevertheless, she bravely rose and made a motion to act upon the +suggestion, knowing that all eyes were upon her, and that the doctor's +remark was made more from a de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[65]</a></span>sire to note the effect of it than from +any expectation that it would be materialized.</p> + +<p>"As we are the ones who have unintentionally wronged Ralph, surely, we +are the ones to make the reparation to him, poor boy," said Adelina.</p> + +<p>The "poor boy" was said as though "poor dear" was what was really meant. +That interpretation may only have been from undue exercise of the +imaginative faculty—we shall not presume to say. No one would have +denied the allegation more firmly or indignantly than Adelina. At any +rate, she did not seem to weigh long the question as to which one of the +party was the one to make the advances. If the opportunity was +fortuitous, it was at least most desirable for herself and Ralph, but we +shall come to that later.</p> + +<p>It was not easy for the girl to go immediately to Ralph, but the desire +to talk with him was the dominant sensation, and lesser ills gave way to +personal desire. It would almost have appeared that the suggestion of +Dr. Ellis was premeditated, and not wholly disinterested, for ere long +Miss Tracy and he were seen going in the opposite direction from the way +Adelina<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[66]</a></span> had taken. At Harold's instigation, Mary had exchanged letters +with Dr. Ellis, but they pertained only to the condition and affairs of +Edward Bamford. This scarcely justified the doctor in his sudden +interest in his unknown correspondent who was at present a most +desirable companion, in his opinion. Had the letters been of a personal +character, Mary might unconsciously have made them contain a clue, and +probably an interesting one, to her individuality. There was really +nothing to inspire special interest, unless a thorough knowledge of +orthography and rhetoric would count. It seems they did, or was it +something else that had transpired? And they did not talk of Ralph now. +Perhaps the reason for that was they had been discussing him for so +long.</p> + +<p>Nothing was said that a third person could not profitably, or, at least +<i>willingly</i>, have listened to. If, with the wish to tease Adelina, there +had been a covert reason for the doctor's maneuver, let us not censure +him too severely. Ralph might really be feeling lonely, left out in the +cold, and so forth. Strange, how he could enter into Ralph's feelings, +and thus analyse them, was it not? And yet, when we consider<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[67]</a></span> that he +had made the mind, with its various emotions the study of years, it was +not odd. It seems less strange when we consider that he was experiencing +feelings similar to those he attributed to his young friend; not that +Dr. Ellis had been lonely, strictly speaking, for propinquity to others +was certain when they were in the same room with him. There is isolation +in the largest crowds; in fact, such environment only intensifies at +times our sense of desolation. When one is dying of nostalgia, of little +avail is it then, that others about us speak our native tongue.</p> + +<p>Well, this strategist was far from dying, but the accomplishment of his +designs to converse with Mary alone, certainly gave him a radiant look, +which betokened the best of terms between himself and the entire +sentient world. Why he was giving a detailed account of certain events +in his life to one he had known so short a time, we shall not endeavor +to determine. Suffice it to say, that he was doing so, and Mary was +listening with keen interest to whatever he might have to say regarding +his past life, never questioning why the information was elicited. When +but a lad he had been thrown upon his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[68]</a></span> own resources, and, perhaps, this +knowledge had begotten in Mary a pity for which she could scarcely give +an adequate reason even to herself, had such a reason been demanded of +her. A great amount of pity she had always possessed, much more than the +average person; and yet, in this instance, the subject of her pity had +long passed the time when that pity was really needed, though when is +true sympathy ever unwelcome or repulsed? Intuitively we know when it is +real. Strange, is it not, that knowing this we still proffer the +sympathy which is not genuine, and but a poor substitute for true +fellow-feeling, and which we know must be detected as such by him who is +the enforced recipient of it? Here the interest was not affected. Mary +began to ask herself the cause of her sudden interest in this stranger, +but she soon concluded that it must be solely due to his propinquity to +Ralph during the latter's illness. Of course it was that. She felt +relieved to know the cause, and to know that the excuse was +sufficient—but was it?</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[69]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH TWO COUPLES TAKE A WALK.</h3> + + +<p>Dr. Ellis proceeded to tell Mary of his boyhood; how he was employed by +a bookseller, who, in return for the lad's services, only continued to +withhold the merited compensation.</p> + +<p>"I remained with him for two years," he went on to say. "Of course I was +fed, and clothed, after a fashion, but I had no other incentive to work +with him except fear."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not run away?" questioned Mary, with reason.</p> + +<p>"I did, but only to suffer the more from each attempt to gain my +freedom. I was invariably caught. Banks would hear no petitions, and the +curious crowd who witnessed my captures thought little of a runaway lad. +As for interfering, why, the thought of coming between father and son +never entered their heads. When Banks insisted that he was my father, he +was believed, and the word of a child was nothing. Each time I tried to +escape I was flogged,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[70]</a></span> not before others, for the man was too sharp for +that, and was all kindliness when there were spectators. I was +threatened with worse ills if I did not obey. I can see Banks yet, and +hear his voice, as he said, 'You see, your word is doubted. I can prove +that you have apprenticed yourself to me.' Oh, the horror of it!"</p> + +<p>"Was the man usually cruel?"</p> + +<p>"No; only when I crossed him or appeared dissatisfied. It was the +humiliation of it that troubled me, child that I was. I was constantly +watched, and seldom allowed to play with boys of my own age. I believe +now that he feared I should discover that he had no power to control my +movements."</p> + +<p>"And how did you finally obtain your release?"</p> + +<p>"Through the death of Banks, though I would have effected my escape +sooner or later, I feel sure. Banks died, and his nephew fell heir to +all that the former had so carefully hoarded. That same nephew had not +cultivated the society of his uncle while living, strange though you may +think it. Afterwards I took a position in a drug store; the study of +pharmacy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[71]</a></span> doubtless produced in me a desire to use the medicines I had +been analyzing."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bayne here strolled past the two who were thus earnestly engaged in +converse, and, noticing that they were too much engrossed to observe his +proximity, ejaculated, in an undertone, "Well, I declare! Dot <i>is</i> +beginning young, if her secret had aught to do with this affair. She +certainly gave me the impression that her secret was a most important +one, but who would have dreamed that she meant this—and she but a +baby?" Here sheer astonishment ended the monologue, for ere he had taken +many steps another couple appeared, walking toward him. "Now, which did +Dot mean?" he began again; then he checked himself, and turned to see if +he had erred; but, no, there were the two behind him, just where he had +left them, or rather, passed them, as much interested as ever, each with +the other. In front he beheld this new couple possessing an equal +appreciation of the advantages of communication with a desirable +companion. That each did think the other a desirable companion was not +to be doubted for a moment. Dot, in the meantime, had not consciously +betrayed her se<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[72]</a></span>cret or broken her word; still, older people may guess +at childhood's secrets without trying to elicit confidences, and this +child was habituated to the feeling that her father must share her +thoughts. Now, the very fact that there was something to conceal, +perhaps for the first time in her little life, only tended to give her +an air of importance which was in itself a betrayal. Poor Dot had +followed her father around until in pity he questioned his diminutive +daughter. A few words were all that were necessary to give him an +inkling of what had passed.</p> + +<p>"How did oo know, Papa?" This was equivalent to saying that his surmises +were correct, but he comforted the innocent informant by telling her +that her promise had not been broken, so that she ran off, relieved that +Papa should know, and at the same time congratulating herself upon her +ability to act as confidante. With an omniscient father, what was she to +do?</p> + +<p>Mr. Bayne would have passed on with only a cheerful salutation, had not +Adelina seen his wistful look, and kindly proposed that she and Ralph +should retrace their steps and join him in his homeward walk. Was there +ever one who enjoyed human companionship more than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[73]</a></span> he, or, for that +matter, the companionship of animals either? He seemed to love all +things and wanted to be with them, but it was only his friends who could +really appreciate the man. There was a look in his eyes which appealed +to one; and why? Not because they asked for pity, but rather that they +gave it, even when you knew that he was suffering himself. His wife had +died when Pet was two years old, and Mr. Bayne had hidden his grief +nobly; yet the tell-tale eyes seemed at times to hold depths of sorrow +patiently borne, for would he not see her again, that one who had been +to him all love and tenderness? Had not the light in her dying eyes +bidden him "Wait?" What is the look which comes to our loved ones' dying +eyes? Is it a look of surprise as they are about to enter into a new +life? Surely that look comes but once in a life, and that when the +earthly life is drawing to its close, to be renewed in the glory of an +endless one. How strange it is, that we, who have watched and been at +the bedside of those loved ones, can follow no further, can never +penetrate that mystery or lift the curtain till we, too, are called to +take the same pathway. We turn to find the impress of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[74]</a></span> smile stamped +on the face, giving to it peace, and seeming to tell of contentment and +well-earned repose.</p> + +<p>Often Mr. Bayne walked about the Tracy grounds, and he was doing so now, +with the palpable hope that he might meet one, at least, of the +household. He never thought of intruding, and it did not occur to him +that his conversation could be welcomed save by those who were +especially interested in him, and who had honored him by their +friendship and leniency, as he chose to express it. He had no cause for +this overweening modesty. Few in rural districts could be more beloved +than he, not that there is not as much individual capacity for loving, +but aggregately there cannot be as much love, owing to the restricted +populace. Individually, he was certainly the object of much love and +veneration. Wherever he went he appeared to carry peace, without +apparent effort. He may have begun by cultivating with persistency the +means of giving comfort, but later one felt that whatsoever he gave of +comfort was given spontaneously. He loved all; what did it matter if +they did not love in return? His mission was to alleviate suffering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[75]</a></span> +when possible; if not, then to impart such truths as would enable the +sufferer to bear the anguish, mental or physical, as the case might be; +not, as before stated, to question whether the love he bestowed so +freely was in any measure returned. That was no concern of his. In his +own immediate family he was in a measure dependent upon the attention of +each member. He had always lived with it. Though it is true that that +affection may have been taken naturally, yet he was always grateful for +it; the fullest reciprocation followed. When the crucial test came he +was willing to surrender all without a murmur. Would the curious +onlookers pronounce him heartless in consequence? There had never been, +and it is safe to add there never would be, a crowd curious alone as to +his welfare, provided he had ever mingled with the crowd. Respect +attended him wherever he went, whether it was in the homeliest of +cottages or at the most elaborate of functions. The latter he did not +have the opportunity or the desire to attend, except at long intervals. +Mr. Bayne was not solicitous regarding the extent of the intervals; the +longer the space, the better.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[76]</a></span></p><p>"Were you going to run off without even asking how I was?" queried +Adelina, reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"That question was answered the moment I beheld you," responded the +rector, with admirable policy.</p> + +<p>"What a flatterer you are. Of all people in the world, you are the last +who should use deceit."</p> + +<p>"Is not what I intimate most true, Mr. Bamford?" asked Mr. Bayne, +turning to him for confirmation of his asseveration.</p> + +<p>"Most assuredly," returned Ralph, adding mischievously, "Miss Fiske does +not appear to think it possible that you may refer to the healthiness +her countenance portrays, and not the beauty of it." This remark showed +that he and Adelina must be on the best of terms. A few hours previous +he would not have ventured such an utterance, nor would he have had even +the inclination, after the estrangement resulting from what he was +pleased to call Adelina's cruel treatment of him. Afterwards he would +have done anything to condone for having had a single derogatory thought +of her.</p> + +<p>"What in the world have you there?" said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[77]</a></span> Adelina. Could she believe the +evidence of her eyes? If so, then Mr. Bayne had taken to the perusal of +such books as related to the latest feminine modes of dress. Without +impertinence she could ask about them, when her elderly friend was +displaying the plates with such openness and disregard of public +opinion.</p> + +<p>"Oh, these? They are for Dot. Miss Carey, the mantua-maker, had told her +to stop for them, but as I chanced to be passing that way I thought I +might act as purveyor with equal safety." This was said in a deprecatory +manner, as though he had been caught in some act of which he ought to be +ashamed; but until Adelina put the question to him it had never occurred +to him that the carrying of such literary matter and accompanying +illustrations was not the most natural thing for a minister to be +interested in.</p> + +<p>"Dot, you see," he continued, in an explanatory way, "cuts out the +pictures. Doubtless she will read about them when she is older." This +was intended for Adelina's benefit, but she pretended to ignore the +fact.</p> + +<p>"If she does wait to profit by their suggestions until she is older, her +outfit will be a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[78]</a></span> beyond the times," Adelina could not resist +saying.</p> + +<p>"She calls them paper dolls," he further elucidated.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Adelina, laughing heartily, as they reached the rectory +gate, "tell Dot I'll help keep house for the dolls."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't he an old dear?" cried she, ecstatically, watching Mr. Bayne's +retreating form.</p> + +<p>"Who beside would have thought of carrying such things for a child?"</p> + +<p>"I, that is, I would do as much for you," Ralph promptly responded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, would you? I have a notion to put you to the test, and see what +would come of your fine promises. I suppose I, in turn, should be +expected to follow the child's example, simply to save your feelings, +after you had so inconvenienced yourself, and betake myself to dolls' +housekeeping, too."</p> + +<p>"Why not do it in reality—on a larger scale?" retorted Ralph, who had +the propensity for turning things to his own advantage. Adelina said +nothing. Ralph, feeling that he had possibly scored in his favor, +continued to expatiate on the pleasures of housekeeping.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do not think that your experience can quite justify you in giving an opinion on +the subject," replied Adelina, congratulating herself on not letting him +have everything his own way.</p> + +<p>"No; but experience teaches, and how am I to gain it alone? I am very +docile, dear, and quite willing to learn of you."</p> + +<p>Adelina softened visibly. "Perhaps," she said, thoughtfully, "if you had +me to take care of you, you would be more prudent concerning your +health."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I would," eagerly. "Even Dr. Ellis says I am not careful +enough."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say <i>even</i> Dr. Ellis? It would be more exact to say Dr. +Ellis, together with all rational beings, believes that of you."</p> + +<p>"But you see I do not flatter myself that all rational beings do think +of me," returned Ralph. "If you think of me, it does not seem to signify +whether the rest do or not."</p> + +<p>"How ungrateful to the rest of your friends!" she cried, wilfully +misunderstanding him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[80]</a></span></p><p>"You know well enough what I mean, dear. I could live without them, and +their opinions."</p> + +<p>"What a delicately implied compliment. You could live without me, too, +if you only thought so."</p> + +<p>"But if I do not think so, it comes to the same thing in the end. We are +not happy unless we think we are."</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether happiness <i>is</i> produced by asking ourselves +continually if we have reached that state. It seems to me the less +concern we give ourselves regarding our own welfare, the happier we are +in reality. I don't instigate improvidence, however. After all, +happiness may not be the best for us," she added, virtuously. I wonder +if she would have been willing to resign her present contentment.</p> + +<p>"Well, surely you would prefer for me to have joy if possible, and you +certainly know wherein my happiness consists."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ralph," said Adelina, with a suspicious moisture about the eyes, +"can you ever forgive me for the horrid thoughts I had about you?"</p> + +<p>"On one condition," he responded. "I only wonder now, dear, how you +could have had so much patience with an alleged lunatic."</p> + +<p>"Don't, please, Ralph." Seeing that she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[81]</a></span> really troubled, he +hastened to say, "Dearest, it is all right now; you were not at fault."</p> + +<p>"I'll never again, as long as I live, judge any one or anything by +appearances."</p> + +<p>"I, too, have learned a lesson, for was I not misjudging you when you +were doing all in your power to save my feelings at the expense of your +own?"</p> + +<p>It was in the evening when our friends were assembled in the little +church of which Mr. Bayne was the rector. Adelina and Ralph were ushered +in first, then came Miss Tracy and a stranger, not her brother, as was +taken note of by the wondering congregation; in fact, Mr. Tracy had +taken a seat in the rear of the church, and had permitted this stranger +to monopolize his sister. Such a thing had never been known to occur, in +the recollection of the Deanmouth people; but as the service had already +commenced, surely that fact ought not to have been taken cognizance of, +nor ought the congregation to have been diverted from the lesson Mr. +Bayne was proceeding to read. The two were utterly oblivious of the +intense interest they were creating. Had Dr. Ellis noticed the movements +betokening restlessness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[82]</a></span> proofs of inattentiveness, he would not for a +moment have thought that he, a perfect stranger, was eliciting such +interest; and yet it was for that very reason that such was the case.</p> + +<p>But soon there was not one in the congregation that was not all +attention, hanging upon each word of the minister's with breathless +interest, and impatiently awaiting the next. It was an address, not a +sermon, and Mr. Bayne had entitled it "The Sea of Misunderstanding." How +that struck home to five of his auditors! Yet Mr. Bayne was ignorant of +the circumstances which were so vividly recalled to some of his hearers +by his words. Strange to say, not one of the friends so much as glanced +at any of the others, but each knew what was going on in the minds of +the others. Had the minister himself ever misjudged any one? I think +not; yet why should he dwell at such length upon this subject, and so +judiciously interweave the text from whence had arisen his ideas? That +earnest air, that placid face, seemed to bear conviction to those who +heard, and it might not be going too far to say that such might have +been the case had he been conversing in a foreign tongue. I say +"conversing,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[83]</a></span> because it always seemed to his auditors that he was only +talking to them just as he would if he had not been occupying the +pulpit. That is why his manner and the dulcet tones of his voice had in +them alone a certain inexplicable power to produce conviction, even +though the purport of the words had been misinterpreted; not that he +made use of abstruse statements to display his own acumen, as some +speakers obviously do, for he sought only to convey in the simplest +manner to others the truths he had already ascertained. His mission was +being fulfilled.</p> + +<p>All who had attended the service were very quiet on their return home. +Perhaps Adelina and Ralph found more to say than any of the others.</p> + +<p>Two months later they were on board a steamer bound for Liverpool. They +were on the deck, and Adelina had produced a letter from Mary, for about +the fifth time. She was reading it to her husband, and both were +enjoying its contents as though ignorant of what had already been +laughed over and discussed a score of times. Ralph was infinitely amused +to find that Adelina was not even looking at what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[84]</a></span> she was supposed to +be reading—to tell the truth, she knew from memory all that Mary had +written.</p> + +<p>"How many times has she mentioned Dr. Ellis?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"One, two, three," counted Adelina, "four—oh, do you remember Tom +Burnett?" she said, breaking off, and losing count, as her eyes caught +the young man's name. That part she had not read to Ralph before.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember him, but what has Mary said about him? I thought some +one else took up her whole attention—and letter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is only some of her foolishness. Tom is much interested in Lucy +Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"But that is not all," pursued Ralph, seeing that she was keeping +something back.</p> + +<p>"You provoking boy." Her looks belied her words. "If you must know, Mary +only said he was consoling himself with Lucy."</p> + +<p>"And you wanted to keep the knowledge of that conquest from me?" he +asked, readily taking in the situation—and her hand.</p> + +<p>"No, dear. I'll never keep anything from you now, I fear."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[85]</a></span></p><p>"And you don't regret anything?"</p> + +<p>"You surely don't mean Tom?"</p> + +<p>This was said with such intense surprise that Ralph could not refrain +from laughing; however, he added, "Are you sure you will never be sorry +you married me?"</p> + +<p>"Never," Adelina said, vehemently.</p> + +<p>And the answer seemed to satisfy him.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 215px;"> +<img src="images/fig2.jpg" width="215" height="100" alt="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Transcriber's Notes:</b> There were a few printer's errors which have been corrected. +The original publication did not contain a table of +contents. This has been provided for the reader's convenience. The original title page of +this book was missing and a mock one has been produced.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Singular Metamorphosis, by May Evelyn Skiles + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SINGULAR METAMORPHOSIS *** + +***** This file should be named 38715-h.htm or 38715-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/7/1/38715/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sue Fleming and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/38715-h/images/cover.png b/38715-h/images/cover.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b93c6c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/38715-h/images/cover.png diff --git a/38715-h/images/fig2.jpg b/38715-h/images/fig2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3837f35 --- /dev/null +++ b/38715-h/images/fig2.jpg diff --git a/38715.txt b/38715.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a15e2f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/38715.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2089 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Singular Metamorphosis, by May Evelyn Skiles + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Singular Metamorphosis + +Author: May Evelyn Skiles + +Release Date: January 30, 2012 [EBook #38715] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SINGULAR METAMORPHOSIS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sue Fleming and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +A Singular Metamorphosis + +By + +May Evelyn Skiles. + + +Published in 1902. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. A Mystery Intimated 5 + + II. She Demands an Explanation 13 + + III. The Advent of Ralph and a Rejected Proposal 26 + + IV. The Meeting 32 + + V. Misunderstandings Arise 44 + + VI. A Startling Revelation 52 + + VII. In Which Two Couples Take a Walk 69 + + + + +A Singular Metamorphosis. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MYSTERY INTIMATED. + + +Miss Fiske had lived with the Tracys several years, and her incipient +curiosity concerning the mystery pertaining to their household was +becoming more obvious, for mystery there certainly was. At specific +periods of the year, when she advanced towards certain portions of the +old mansion, she had been deterred in her attempts to proceed. It was +not that she was more curious than the average mortal, but no matter how +devoid of innate curiosity one is, the mere fact that there is something +worthy of secrecy immediately produces as a natural sequence a suddenly +awakened interest and a consequent desire of exposition. + +There were only three occupants of the home: the two Tracys, brother and +sister, and Miss Fiske, who had accepted the proffered home on the +death of her father, her only near surviving relative. It is true there +had been an intimation of loving services that might be rendered in +return, to the brother and sister, or, perhaps, she would not have +accepted so readily the proffered home without remuneration, though it +was evident that they needed none, and would have been sorely wounded by +any such offer. Miss Fiske could well have afforded something more +substantial than her presence. While the two families were not +consanguineous, there had been intermarriages, consequently, more than +feelings of friendship existed between them. Mr. Tracy seemed to the +girl of twenty-two almost like a father, guardian he had been till she +arrived at her majority. + +Sometimes Adelina fancied her life similar to that portrayed by writers +of fiction, the old dwelling and its accompanying secretiveness all +tending to foster this belief. It is not my wish to leave the impression +that such a trivial circumstance could effect a radical transformation +in so sensible a young person as the one in question, nor did she linger +over these things to the detriment of better thoughts and occupations. +There were times, as already mentioned, when it was plain that her +presence in the western wing of the house would be an intrusion. The +cause of this, try as she would, could not be divined. Everywhere else +she was welcomed with joy, for both Harold and Mary Tracy had learned to +look upon her as the best gift vouchsafed to their isolated lives; not +that they had ever been really unhappy, except at rare intervals, but +for years they had held aloof from the social gatherings of Deanmouth, +deeming each other's society all-sufficient until the appearance of a +third person, who immediately upset that theory, in fact, rejuvenating +all that came into contact with her striking personality. Prior to her +arrival at Deanmouth, there had indeed been one who had succumbed to her +influence. Poor young fellow! He had so long brooded over her refusal to +be in turn influenced in like manner by him that his mind had gradually +become unbalanced. There had been an attack of fever; hence, the +combination of these simultaneous misfortunes--sickness and +disappointment--had resulted in the unhinging of a heretofore well +balanced mind. + +Had he not been so weakened mentally and physically by this protracted +illness, this might never have occurred. With no vitality; indeed, no +wish to regain it, what else could have ensued? Miss Fiske was greatly +troubled, reproaching herself constantly, yet conscious of her inability +to act otherwise--at that time, anyway. Had there since been no regret +at the refusal of so great a love? Who will say? none knew of it +assuredly; her uniform cheerfulness precluding all thought of regret or +longing. Were there more resembling her, and thus endeavoring to +ameliorate the woes of others, how far would we be towards the +advancement of the evolution which is the outcome of our existence; but +far be it from me to intimate that there are not many who daily, hourly, +submerge all thought of self in the one desire of abetting others. Was +not that one of the ends for which we were created, else why permitted +to be companions to those with the same sensibilities as ourselves? Miss +Fiske had no notion of embittering her own life or that of others in +bewailing the past, in idle conjectures of what might have been; nor did +she deem it at all necessary to spend her time in futile surmises as to +the future ills that might chance to fall to her lot. + +One day Adelina had returned from her accustomed walk, without finding +Mary in her usual place, waiting to welcome her with her peculiarly +sweet smile, and ready interest in all that appertained to the life of a +young person. Adelina was not to wait long, however, before Mary entered +the room, with cheeks flushed with excitement, but if the former +expected any disclosures or explanations incident to the cause of this +agitation, she was destined to disappointment. Her delicate attempts to +elicit information proved futile, and apparently passed unnoticed, for +to effect revelations of a personal nature from beings inherently +reticent is no facile undertaking. Adelina's question with regard to her +friend's welfare met with no response except a rather positive denial as +to any indisposition. Such a fact as the discomposure of Mary was +unusual enough to call forth comment. + +"No, dear; I am always well, except, perhaps, during the two months you +are away from me. I am afraid I am very selfish," Mary added, with a +loving smile. + +"Dear Mary, the idea of your ever being made selfish by anything is +preposterous. I have often wondered why you and Harold always persist in +my going away at the same time, when I can see how much you miss me." + +"Old people have their whims. You have lived with them long enough to +find that out, dear." Adelina's assurance that her friend would never +become old was uttered with a quiet air, but there was, nevertheless, an +internal disquietude in the young girl's mind, for which she could not +account. + +"I wonder what's up?" she said to herself. "Why is it I am asked, even +urged, to be away the early part of each summer?" In some unaccountable +way she connected this with the reason of her exclusion from one part of +the house, though repeatedly assuring herself that such a conclusion was +irrelevant. Despite her manifold efforts to the contrary, this thought +was continually recurring to her. Mary's repeated asseverations that she +was only suffering from lassitude did not deceive Adelina, for if she +experienced such a sensation her friends had never known her to admit it +before. Adelina was grieved to witness the agitation which marred the +usual serenity of Mary's countenance. + +"Ada, dear, play something restful." Adelina immediately conceded to her +request, and selected from her large repertoire the compositions most +liable to drive away unwelcome thoughts. + +"How well you play," said her auditor. "How do you manage to make those +fingers perform their office so well?" + +"Look at your own, and behold the answer," laughingly replied Adelina. +Miss Tracy blushed with pleasure, she, too, had performed on the piano +wonderfully well. + +The life of this young girl forcibly recalled to her her own youth; +perhaps that is why the years bring to the older members of the great +drama of Life a desire of renewing through others the part as already +enacted by them. Harold, at this juncture, appeared on the scene, the +sound of music, as his sister often told him, seeming to reach him no +matter where he chanced to be. In this instance other thoughts claimed +his attention. + +"Adelina," he began, "would you not like to go to some livelier place?" + +"Why, Harold, I've just been away." + +"Your _just_ means a year, nevertheless," he mischievously retorted, +"however flattered we may be by your implying that the time was short." + +This was the time annually appointed for her departure. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SHE DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION. + + +It all happened so naturally, with such an evident desire for her +happiness and comfort that each time Adelina felt the inability to +frustrate the plans of Harold and Mary. How her friends could feel that +her pleasure was so much involved was more than she could determine. + +"Why should I, who am always well, need change, when you two never go +away?" Adelina asked, then added, without leaving time for an answer, +"it is not quiet for me now." + +"It is strange how lively one curate can make a place. He is really the +only addition to the place that I can think of," rejoined Mr. Tracy, +half satirically. It will be readily seen that he had the man's +universal love of teasing. Though the remark was made in fun, the girl +betrayed confusion, at which Harold wondered. Could it be possible that +she had in so short a time begun to take an interest in this stranger, +or was there some latent thought of that other, whose love for her had +ended so disastrously for himself? Aloud, Harold said, "There's no +accounting for the love affairs of a young girl," which sententious +remark really expressed his inmost thoughts. Miss Fiske had regained her +equanimity ere long, and showed it by her readiness to indulge in +repartee. + +"Harold," she said, "you get worse every year." + +"In what way am I deteriorating? Ah, 'tis looks you doubtless mean," he +ruminatingly replied. "Not only every year, but every day I see my +natural head-gear vanishing." This was said as though he was sorely +wounded, with the pretense of ruefully feeling with caution the head +which proclaimed to all that the extreme paucity of hair was no +exaggeration on his part. + +"That does not indicate a falling away of your lingual powers, however," +saucily replied Adelina. + +"Fie, every one knows my scarcity of words." + +"Oh, yes, doubtless; when seen as I chanced to view you an hour ago. You +were quietly sleeping over a musty psychology. Yes, I admit you were +quiet then. Were you illustrating the chapter on sleep?" + +"Mary, Mary, can you stand by and hear me thus maligned?" + +"Mary knows better than to take up for you. Already you presume too much +on your past right of guardianship. Even a few moments ago you were +trying to dispose of me by sending me to the farthest corners of the +earth." As "the farthest corners of the earth" meant only a score of +miles, the good-natured controversy ended in laughter. A cloud had come +over the face of Miss Tracy at the last words of Adelina. The latter, on +reviewing her words, could only attribute it to the mention of her +departure. If the truth were known, Miss Tracy had been reminded of +something which had taken place prior to the above conversation. Adelina +knew nothing of this, except in so far as it related to the effect as +displayed on her friend's countenance when she had surprised her by her +sudden entrance to the room. Mary had evidently expected a quiet +retreat, and so was unprepared to greet Adelina in an impassive manner. +Adelina had felt hurt that she was not instantly taken into Mary's +confidence. It was so seldom that Mary showed any disposition towards +concealment with her. Adelina's thoughts were, however, interrupted as +far as this was concerned; for Harold and Mary were again discussing the +contemplated trip, and she did not wish to appear ungrateful to them for +planning what she inwardly objected to most decidedly. The little frown +that followed augured ill for the success of their project, +nevertheless. There was no need, she said, of her going away every May +and June. The mere fact that this took place at stated times each year +was monotonous, to say the least. If a change was necessary, she felt +that a change of time alone would be effectual in procuring good +results. It would break the monotony, if nothing more. This looked like +sheer obstinacy. + +"See what humoring her has done," said Mr. Tracy, with a smile, that did +not conceal the underlying gravity. The gravity Adelina thought was only +the result of her alleged objection to the carrying out of his purposes. +Though she felt half reluctant to persevere in her own interests, she +said to herself that she would not be treated like a baby, and disposed +of in this summary manner. Aloud she said, "If you wish to dispose of +me, say so; it certainly looks as though you wished to get rid of me." +Then, ashamed of her petulant utterance, she hastened to add, "It does +seem that I might be permitted to know what concerns myself. What takes +place in my absence is no concern of mine, but to know why that absence +is necessary seems a most natural desire." + +The reference to the taking place of something in her absence was not +premeditated; in fact, Adelina had not considered the significance of +her words. That the others had was obvious, as was revealed by the +questioning looks exchanged between brother and sister, interpreted as +wishing to know whether or not the other deemed a disclosure to be +plausible. Adelina looked from one to the other in amazement. Had she +prepared her words she would not have pronounced any more calculated to +produce consternation. So there was some reason for her being sent away +at a particular time; opposition would not have produced such an effect +as this. She was undecided as to her procedure. She well knew that there +is victory in the manner of accepting defeat. If she gracefully retired +she would lose all chance of whatever explanation that might be rendered +to her, though she was dubious that any would be vouchsafed. In the +event of remaining in a quiescent attitude, a revelation might be +effected. If she did the latter and found no hope of gratification +forthcoming, doubtless she would wish she had decided on the other +course. "Well," she argued, "I'll apply my knowledge; somewhere I have +read or heard that when you are undecided what to do, don't do +anything--a most convenient theory, at any rate." Having justified +herself in this conclusion, she assumed a carefully-studied air of +complete indifference, which maneuver would, she hoped, bring about best +results. When she was unoccupied and quiet, too, people generally +inquired if she was sick, which is frequently the case where an +excessive talker is concerned. The desired issue was forthcoming. + +"Adelina," said Mr. Tracy, "we had no idea that you were concerned about +this affair. Had we known that you perceived any alteration in us, we +would long ago have decided that it was best to tell you all." Mr. +Tracy looked as though he scarcely knew how to proceed. When once he had +decided on the right course, however, he pursued it without deviation, +without any consideration of personal disinclinations or inconveniences +which might possibly accrue. Those who can thus felicitously form +certain decisions appertaining to their moral obligations, and having +arrived at such decisions, can unswervingly follow the proscribed mode +of conduct, should indeed be content. + +"It is only natural, my child," resumed Mr. Tracy, "that you desire to +have revealed to you what so nearly concerns you." To a stranger Mr. +Tracy's manner might possibly have produced an impression of latent +irritation. The noblest natures, when endeavoring to overcome emotion +have often, unfortunately, inadequate means of expressing or manifesting +the beneficence actually belonging to them. There was no danger of a +misunderstanding here; daily intercourse with a man like this would bear +evidence of his nobility. After a slight interval devoted to +consideration as to his manner of procedure, he said, "Our wish to have +you away during May and June was for your own good." + +"That I never doubted," replied Adelina, with a grateful look. + +"If you remember, it was three years ago that we first proposed your +leaving us. Did you in no way associate it with something happening the +same year?" + +"Dear Harold, when did anything so momentous take place?" Harold, +reflecting on his inability to prepare Adelina, added: + +"It was the year poor Ralph Bamford was taken ill. Have you never +wondered where he has been since then?" As if to cover her confusion, he +quickly added: + +"But of course you have; your natural kindness would lead you to +conjecture that far. His malady has never rendered him dangerous to +those about him, hence he has remained a portion of each year with us; +the rest of the time with a private family. It was through his ravings +that we learned the circumstances you know so well--better than any. +Since that time we have always had him with us the months when his +sickness is at the worst. Once he caught a glimpse of you--the effect +can readily be imagined. We have deemed it expedient to send you away to +prevent similar attacks." Mr. Tracy had spoken rapidly, as if to +eliminate the supposition that his hearer must be equally garrulous. +Even though the young girl's feelings had not been involved in +sentimentalities, such reminiscences would be painful to any endowed +with the capacity of sympathizing. She was really more indifferent +regarding her own situation than she was at the knowledge of pain +inevitably inflicted on another by herself. The majority of girls would +doubtless have preferred to evince no interest in the young man she had +formerly subjugated. Far from her was the intention of affecting the +anticipated lack of interest in his welfare. Even Harold and Mary would +have thought the desire to avert comment justifiable; however, Adelina +took the opposing course by continuing to interrogate them. + +"Is he at all improved of late? Poor boy. I shall always feel that I am +to blame." + +"Nonsense, my dear," returned Harold. "Then nothing but the event of +Ralph's recovery will restore your natural buoyancy?" Mary gave an +admonitory look, in order to curb this levity, and also lest the +reference to a supposititious recovery might raise hopes only to be +disappointed. Mr. Tracy had spoken as if only an ordinary sickness had +been at issue, as though there was no aberration of the mental +functions. + +"Harold, is there anything to warrant us in thinking he will ever be +well again?" Adelina's question was not put as calmly as she deceived +herself into believing. Harold regretted his impulsive speech, and would +feign have recalled it. He cast a beseeching look at his sister to aid +in extricating him from the difficulties attending his folly. + +"Adelina," he said, after giving to his sister a most reproachful look +for not entering the breach, "there can as yet be no certainty of +Ralph's recovery. We often hope where there is nothing to warrant us in +so hoping." + +"You do not expect me to leave, now that I know that he is to be here so +soon?" the rising inflexion alone conveying the idea of interrogation. + +That an answer was expected, however, was made manifest by the girl's +undisguised eagerness to learn the purport of the anticipated reply. +Mary was the first to respond. + +"You are no longer a child, dear, and so must judge for yourself. Would +you prefer remaining?" + +"I would," replied Adelina, then feeling how laconic was the answer, +added, "I would because there can be no detriment to him. I shall be so +careful not to agitate him." This last was said almost pleadingly. + +"And not to let him see you," cautioned Harold. + +"Would he recognize me now?" + +"Yes, doubtless, the mind frequently at such times reverts to the past, +and appears momentarily to resume its former activity by similar +reminiscences." + +"Then it would be much better if he did not know me," said Adelina, with +a praiseworthy forgetfulness of self, for it was most obvious that time +had not proved efficacious in diminishing what had once been friendship, +but which now had developed into a feeling not so readily explained, a +feeling which had not matured to the ripeness of love. The boundary line +was there, yet so fine as scarce to be detected. Even that may prove to +be the salvation of many a person's happiness, a barrier, seemingly of +little import, yet serving well those reflectively inclined. To the +impulsive, easily led by pity or personal feelings, it would be of less +moment, save in prolonging the interval of decision--which fact alone +might chance to prove invaluable. Adelina would assuredly have been +placed under the former category, though sympathy did frequently prompt +the desire of effecting what had only the semblance of working the +earliest good. It was not long, however, that indecision troubled her. +Added to her desire of performing some good office for Ralph, there was +in this case a wish to gratify herself. The former cause would have been +sufficient to make Adelina form her opinion about remaining. The ability +of doing good, or even the attempt to do so, without ulterior +motives--unless the knowledge of well-performed duty be called a +motive--was enough to secure Adelina's partisanship in any undertaking +of mercy. + +"So I am to stay," cried she, after the discussion had ended to her +satisfaction. + +"You generally do manage to have your way," smilingly replied Mary. + +"There; that is what I have been contending for the past hour," put in +Mr. Tracy. + +"Oh, indeed. I thought the argument began by discussing your silence," +returned Adelina. + +"Do any of you know that it is time for tea?" As this seemed remote from +the subject in hand, his young friend exclaimed: + +"That is right, change the subject. Here is one of the many you +addressed who knows how late it is." She was half-way up the stairs +before the others appeared in the hall. Leaning over the banister, she +called back, laughingly: + +"Talking does make one hungry, Harold; no wonder you mentioned tea. How +you have talked." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ADVENT OF RALPH AND A REJECTED PROPOSAL. + + +There appeared to be a tacit understanding between the Tracys and +Adelina that there should be no further mention of the advent of Ralph +Bamford. Adelina knew that he was coming soon; that was all. From her +nonchalant manner none could descry her real interest in the affair. +Harold and Mary were not deceived, however, by any outward calmness. Too +well did they know the young girl not to be cognizant of her deep +capacity for feeling, even though there was no reason for emotion other +than that of sympathy, that sympathy which would have been rendered to +any to whom it was requisite or welcome. + +A few days following the conversation last related, Adelina was walking +on the lawn, when through the shrubbery she espied a carriage which had +stopped just outside the drive. From the carriage a tall man first +alighted, and paused to wait for a second person to issue from the +interior. The former was soon joined by one who was clearly a much +younger man, though even from Adelina's point of view, it could be seen +that he was not as agile as his senior. "Ralph," the young girl gasped, +then added, "yes, it is he." Suddenly she felt the most unreasoning +dread of being discovered, not only by the newcomers, but by anyone, for +that matter. It was natural that she should wish her presence to escape +Ralph's observation until a more opportune time, fearing the result of +such a recognition would be of the greatest detriment to him physically, +mentally, she did not even allow herself to think. It was strange how +immediate was Adelina's recognition of the young man--not, as was +afterwards learned, that he had suffered in looks--but a failure to +recognize him at that distance would have been most natural, despite the +knowledge of his near arrival. Now that he had come, her first and only +impulse was to put as much space as possible between him and herself. +She ran until she reached a rustic seat, where she sank breathless, +laughing at her absurd timidity--that trait not being a dominant +characteristic. Ere long she saw a young man emerging from one of the +summer houses. He seemed to be engaged in a fruitless search. When he in +turn discovered Adelina, a glad look of triumph followed. + +"I've been looking everywhere for you," he said, quickly finding a place +beside her. + +"Where did you expect to find me? Under the seats of the summer house, +most likely," Adelina retorted. + +"I think I've looked everywhere, as I said." + +This remark was made with the most open assumption of patience; indeed, +so transparent was the effort that Adelina greeted the reply with a +merry laugh, in which Mr. Burnett joined, perforce. + +"Adelina," he said, "I have wanted an opportunity of seeing you alone." + +"There; it's coming," said the girl to herself, resignedly. + +"Will you not reconsider your answer of last Friday?" Mr. Burnett +continued. + +"Don't ask me to reconsider, or even remember all of my thoughtless +speeches," remarked Adelina faintly, knowing the rendition of the +programme to follow as though the parts had been assigned to each one. + +"You might at least listen," pleaded the young man. + +"Listen," she said vehemently, "why, I could not very well help it, as I +have not yet lost the sense of hearing." + +"Ah, that is sufficient answer; if you loved you could not be +frivolous." + +"I do love," she said with such simplicity, that it is small wonder if +Mr. Burnett felt encouraged and eagerly asked: + +"Is that true, Adelina?" + +Seeing her mistake, Adelina hastened to add: + +"Why, yes; I love Harold and Mary, and----" + +"Pshaw! I thought you meant some one." + +"Meaning yourself? No doubt the two mentioned would be delighted at +being designated nonentities." Then, seeing that the young man was +really wounded, she said impatiently: + +"Why can't you love some one else?" + +The fact that she was inflicting pain unwillingly and helplessly made +her half angry with him. + +"There are plenty of nice girls--Lucy, Alice----" + +"That will do," Mr. Burnett interrupted with dignity. "Love is not made +to order." + +"Not even when I order it?" Adelina said, with a bewitching air. Then, +suddenly discovering her advantage, added, "If you really care for me +you would do as I wish." + +But for the timely arrival of a servant on the scene, bearing a message +for Miss Fiske, there is no determining when the above conversation +would have ended. One of the disputants was longing to put an end to it +as speedily as possible, or at least, as quickly as was consistent with +even a show of politeness; the other was putting forth every effort to +prolong it without impunity. To risk all would be to lose all. He was +not certain that there was anything to lose, that anything had ever been +gained. For all the benefit accruing to either from the conversation it +might as well have never taken place. As they leisurely strolled towards +the house, both remained silent, neither desiring to break the silence, +whether from feelings of constraint or from varied emotions, it would be +difficult to learn. While Adelina's thoughts were, perhaps, less sad +than those of her admirer, they were at least, far from enviable, +commingled as they were with this recent event, and the one of former +years. Doubtless she was thinking partly of what Mr. Burnett was +thinking of her, and what she would say to that other whose arrival she +had just witnessed. Tom Burnett had evidently concluded that "the better +part of valor is discretion," for there was no pursuance of the talk, +even when he found they were nearing the doorway. Only a quiet "good-by" +from him. That was all he said to the girl who knew she had his +happiness in her keeping, but whom he never once blamed, knowing with +her conscience was all, and that she would follow its dictates, meriting +thus always the love he had chosen to bestow upon her. Chosen? No; +surely, that word is misapplied, for who ever chooses to love? Does love +not rather come unawares to the non-suspecting? and does not the word +rightly interpreted tell of an utter forgetfulness of self, implying +only disinterested feelings; precluding entirely the idea of selection, +which alone would mean something premeditated? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE MEETING. + + +Adelina found Mary awaiting her, and, though, secretly delighting in the +interruption, learned that there was really no reason for her being +summoned, except Mary's wish to discuss recent events, and the desire to +hasten a meeting between the two young people. The young girl read the +question Mary longed to ask, and answered it accordingly, "I have seen +him." + +"He is much better than we ever dared to expect. He seems never to have +been troubled by the strange malady we know has existed, save for one +illusion. Twice he has spoken of his indebtedness to us for the care of +his brother. It is clearly a case of mistaken identity. Ralph thinks the +man, for whom we have cared, was his brother. As I said, his loss of +such consciousness, is all that remains of his former trouble. Perhaps +he did have a brother," Mary ended thoughtfully. + +"Yes," replied Adelina, "he has mentioned a brother, though I have +often wondered why he never told me more concerning him." + +"The gentleman who accompanied Ralph is his physician, Dr. Ellis. He +said that Ralph was so anxious to come, and that he was so imprudent he +needed some one to watch him." + +"Did Dr. Ellis use the word 'watch' before Ralph?" asked Adelina +indignantly. + +"Yes, but only to convey physical deficiency." + +"And where is Ralph now?" asked Adelina. + +"With Harold, in the library. Let us go there now. Dr. Ellis left on the +plea of other engagements, but partly, I think, to leave us alone with +Ralph this first evening. Aside from professional feelings, he seems to +take the greatest interest in Ralph." + +By this time the speakers had reached the library door, where Mary +paused as if to give her young friend a moment for preparation. Adelina, +however, desired to make a speedy entrance, which would admit of no time +for deliberation. She felt that if she had time to consider the +prospective meeting, a feeling of constraint would follow. The most +carefully prepared language remains unuttered when one is brought face +to face with the contingency. Memory fails, leaving only a trace of +forgotten eloquence, which is sufficient to render us speechless, +knowing as we do, that aught said now, must ever be inferior to the +expressions formulated in quieter moments. Adelina straightway entered +the room. Ralph turned quickly, as though in recognition of her step. He +came eagerly forward and took the proffered hand, looking searchingly +into the girl's eyes. What he read there was not the indifference he had +contemplated, prior to his arrival at Deanmouth. A faint flush suffused +Adelina's cheek, and, as if to conceal her emotion, she uttered some +polite triviality, which, it is safe to say, was not remembered by her. +Harold left them, ostensibly on some forgotten errand. + +Adelina looked after his retreating form longingly, but remembered that +Mary had not forsaken her. To her surprise, she found, on glancing +around, that Mary had not even entered with her. Ralph Bamford had +differing views as to the desirability of additional company, as was +testified by his readiness to enter into conversation, while inwardly +blessing Harold for his considerate departure. + +"It is such a pleasure to be here," he said. "How I have longed to see +you." Then, afraid of his own audacity, emended the last sentence by +saying: "Yes, I have often thought of the old place and its occupants." + +"It seems to me that we might have been mentioned first, besides it is +not long since you saw the place." + +"Only a matter of three years. There is, I believe, one accepted mode +for the computation of time, which is universally utilized by the +enlightened, however we may disagree in the lapse of it. To me three +years is no short time." + +"What can you mean? You were----" Adelina broke off, horrified at her +want of thought; for had she not promised to be all carefulness? + +Already she found herself endeavoring to recall to Ralph his other +sojourns at the same place under such inauspicious circumstances. She +could not proceed with the self-interrupted sentence, even though she +was aware that the pause was noticed by Ralph; yet, surely, it was but +natural that Adelina should remind him of his former visits to the +place. He had seemed so like his old self that she was certain he would +remember the visit of only a year ago. She scarce knew what to answer, +when Ralph said with a most surprised look: + +"What is the matter? Have I returned sooner than you expected?" + +There was reproach as well as surprise in the query. Adelina was pained +by the lapse of memory, supposedly inconsistent with the soundness of +mind she had commenced to think had been restored to him. Of course the +young man attributed her silence to indifference, which state she was +far from feeling. The situation was certainly a strange one. There was +the lover hanging on the anticipated reply, and longing for a denial of +his hasty words; the woman fearing to utter some word which would either +wound him, or intensify the mental failure of which the young man +himself was totally oblivious. As soon as Adelina perceived her error, +she tried to retrieve it by diverting Ralph's attention, refraining +carefully from setting him aright concerning his mistaken asseveration; +but the young man was not to be diverted by other channels of thought +from the question at issue. Having noted Adelina's confusion, he had +asked for the cause, and finding one question unanswered, had +supplemented it by another. He was growing impatient. Why did Adelina +act so unlike herself? Surely, there was nothing to conceal. It was not +as though he was a stranger; though, to his amazement, he found he was +being treated as such; why, he had known her capable of giving the most +evasive replies in the sweetest manner to the most direct +interrogations, and never had she appeared so ill at ease to him. Did +two persons ever more thoroughly misunderstand each other, or so fail in +penetrating the other's thoughts? There could not even be a +reconciliation when no wrong had been committed; there was only the +breach which neither could cross. Only a feeling of misery, blank and +hopeless remained, which it seemed time only could assuage. + +Adelina felt as strongly as Ralph her utter inability to talk; the mere +fact that she was so thoroughly misunderstood widened the breach. If she +could only have explained to Ralph the cause of her hesitation,--but no, +she knew she never could. + +Even if Ralph was ever his true self again, Adelina knew that even to +spare herself she would never hurt him by such an explanation, an +explanation entailing a revelation of the symptoms and various stages of +his disease. If it necessitated such indelicacy, she felt that she would +prefer being misjudged. This was only theory. She had not been put to +the test. How can we answer for what we shall do in a given instance? +Adelina was the first to rally, and was beginning to speak, when the +door-knob was imperatively rattled by something intent upon letting its +wants be known. + +"It must be Watch," said Adelina, after she had discovered whence the +sound issued. + +"An intelligent dog," answered Ralph, "and certainly very active for his +years. I am ashamed to say I had almost forgotten his existence." + +"You wouldn't if you stayed long," said Adelina, as she hastened to the +door. Accustomed as she was to the rather rough canine greetings, she +concealed herself behind the door without looking at the supposed dog as +she opened a way for his entrance. A small voice said, "I want to tome +in." + +"That much is evident," laughingly put in Ralph, as Adelina emerged +from her hiding place. + +"Is that you, Pet?" she asked. "Come and speak to Mr. Bamford." + +"Is oo mawwied to him?" asked the child, innocently. + +"If we only were," said Ralph to himself, perhaps not intended to be in +so low a tone as not to reach the desired quarter. + +"Do oo weally want to be?" questioned the child, of Ralph, who had drawn +her onto his knee. + +"Did you come alone?" was the irrelevant answer. + +"'Es; I'se not afwaid. I tan thee my houth fwom here." + +"Our rector, Mr. Bayne, is her father," explained Adelina. "We are the +greatest of friends," she added. + +"Who? You and Mr. Bayne?" asked Ralph. + +"No, the child, of course." + +Pet, not caring to be excluded from the conversation, and feeling a +monopoly unfair, persisted in obtaining a solution to the subject +uppermost in her baby mind. + +"Won't oo tell Pet?" she said. "Do oo want to det mawwied?" + +Receiving still no reply, and in no wise diverted from her curiosity, +she continued to enlarge on the subject. + +"Papa'll mawwy oo. I'll wun ast him now. Pet fordets," she said, +slipping off Ralph's knee ere he was aware of her intention. + +"Oh, stop her," cried Adelina, with energy, but so horrified that she +could do nothing herself to intercept the childish form. Ralph hurried +to the door just in time, and caught the child in his arms. + +She looked disappointed. + +"Pet fordets," she reiterated. + +"You will never get me to believe that," laughed Ralph, remembering her +former perseverance. Seeing that Pet did not understand, he kissed her +and said he wanted her to stay with him. Adelina had retired to the +farthest corner of the room. At first, she was half angry with the +child; but later, amusement was the predominating sensation. Presently +Pet's voice was heard asking where Ada was, so the latter stepped +forward. Ralph's eyes were dancing mischievously. + +"You do not mind the baby's prattle, surely?" said he, lest Adelina +would deem his ill-concealed merriment untimely and unprecedented. + +The child had brought a change of atmosphere. The two older persons +seemed to breathe a different air. Adelina had been troubled at Pet's +extreme candor; though, meanwhile admiring the parents who so early had +instilled that virtue. Pet had looked with wide-eyed wonder at the two +who could wish her to keep anything from her father. + +"I always tell papa evwything," she urged. + +"But this is not about yourself, dear," said Adelina, trying to put it +so the little one would understand. + +"But I thaw it," was the answer. + +"Saw it?" said Adelina; then added severely, "you saw nothing." + +"I did thee he wanted to mawwy oo," sobbed the child, "'tause he looked +happy." + +Adelina found herself floundering in a sea of difficulties, so for +answer, only kissed the child; and, to put an end decisively to further +argument, said: + +"Pet, dear, let us see if Ralph has goodies in his pocket." + +The little one understood. Whatever wrong she had committed was +forgiven. She glanced at Ralph, for it never occurred to her that +Adelina's suggestion might prove fallacious. Her implicit confidence in +another's word gave evidence of the training received; that the child +was not accustomed to being deceived in trifles was obvious. When it was +found that Ralph could produce the desired sweetmeats, Adelina asked, +teasingly: + +"Have you never overcome your boyish weakness?" + +"Fortunately for you I have not. Your veracity was at stake. It would +have served you right if I had refused to resign the desired articles, +after your putting an abrupt terminus to an absorbing topic, ingeniously +introduced." + +Such audacity in referring to the subject Adelina fondly thought she had +brought to an ignominious end quite took away her breath. + +"Yes," pursued Ralph reflectively, "that child is a genius; added to +that is the perseverance requisite to complete success." + +"Those two are incorrigible," murmured Adelina. + +"No, we're not," objected the irrepressible Pet, "we're in chair. Tan't +oo thee uth?" She had all of the child's impatience of incorrect +statements. + +Ralph shook with laughter at this naive utterance. + +"I'm doin' home," said Pet, waiting, however, with the expectation of an +invitation to remain. + +As her elders vouchsafed no reply, she repeated the information, and +slid off Ralph's knee. + +Ralph who felt that he had probably gone far enough, simply expressed a +desire to have her return very soon. + +"I will tome," she promptly answered. Then, waiting to be kissed by +both, she ran off, calling back sweetly: + +"I'll not tell papa if oo don't want me to." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MISUNDERSTANDINGS ARISE. + + +That night was a restless night for Adelina. There were mysteries she +could not unravel. She could not reconcile Ralph's lapse of memory with +the perfect self-poise subsequently evinced. She knew that a single +instance of forgetfulness would not have been perceived by her with such +readiness had it not been for antecedent knowledge of mental +derangement. Memory had not proved treacherous regarding any other fact, +however trivial, which had been mentioned in his hearing. There was +another thing which troubled Adelina--Ralph's assumption that Harold and +Mary were the benefactors, not of himself, but of the brother whom +neither had seen. She had not wanted to talk the matter over again with +her friends. It would only accentuate the sad feelings of each. She +wanted time (of which commodity she soon had a sufficiency) to think it +all over in the solitude of her own room. Once there, she found it +equally as difficult to arrive at any just estimate of the truth. She +dreamed that Ralph appeared with his brother, and commanded her sternly +to choose between them. + +She awoke with a shudder to find the sun shining brightly in her window, +as if to beseech her to come out and enjoy his glories. She quickly +responded to the manifest entreaty, only too thankful to discover that +the long night--a night of troubled thought and dreams, was over. When +at intervals of consciousness, she had tried to concentrate her vagrant +thoughts to some purpose, she could only vaguely feel that there was +something she was incapable of adverting; and so, when morning came at +last, she was determined to accept such diversion as was offered. + +Accordingly, arrayed in one of her most becoming gowns, she descended +the stairs, and walked out on the veranda. It was characteristic of her, +that when she was inwardly troubled she invariably took the greatest +care in making her toilet, perhaps feeling that her spirits might +ultimately assume the nature of her garb. + +Adelina was soon joined by Ralph, who looked radiantly happy. He +evidently thought that her propinquity was enough for the present, let +the future bring what it might. He had so long been denied a sight of +her, that it is to be doubted whether he even gave that future a +thought. His buoyancy could not be otherwise than infectious; added to +that were Adelina's strenuous efforts to shake off the unwelcome +thoughts of the preceding night, to which she knew that she would +succumb if left to herself--without the incentive of trying to appear +cheerful before others. Those imbued with such altruism have some +recompense even in this world, where reward so seldom seems to come for +right doing--that of submerging their own woes in the happiness or +reverses of others. + +It was later in the morning that Adelina had further cause for sorrow. +She had gone to her room for a volume of poems in order to find a +quotation which Ralph had laughingly insisted she had misquoted. +Adelina, in turn, asserted that he would regret that she had gone only +to prove him wrong. Sad he certainly did look when she returned. + +He was holding a bit of paper in his hand, as if deliberating whether he +ought to continue its perusal or not. He was standing where she left +him, but how different were his expression and manner. When she turned +to him with a look of inquiry, his only answer was: + +"I had not thought you could deceive me." + +Deceive him? When had she ever deceived him? She knew she had never done +that, even before she had begun to care for him, and now that she was +beginning to care, surely it was cruel to accuse her thus. + +He mistook her silence for confirmation of her guilt, for was it not her +own handwriting which he held? And could you censure him for believing +his senses? + +Adelina was secretly blaming him for this lack of faith, which was only +natural as she was the one doubted, and consequently, knew her own +innocence. She could not prove the falsity of her alleged imperfection, +until she heard the charges against her, and her pride kept her silent +for a time. She disdained the idea of asking the question which would +tell her all. How beautiful she looked. Even Ralph was thinking of her +beauty, her proud, refined face appealing as it did to his sense of the +esthetic. How he hated himself for worshiping the external beauty until +he could penetrate beneath the surface and see if she were really +worthy of being revered. Ralph viciously crumpled the unoffending paper +in his hand. Had it not been the cause of sudden, maddening pain to him? +Adelina's absence had, at most, been only a question of a few minutes. +Her bewildered look, on her return, ought to have been sufficient to +reassure Ralph, and that probably was the reason that he eventually held +the fragment of paper towards her. Adelina took it, and with a blanching +face, read an excerpt from her journal. It had probably blown from the +open window of her room. She remembered that she had carelessly left her +writing on a desk quite near the window. The writing was to the purport +that she loved some one whose mind was affected, but the bare statement +was unaccompanied by any appellation which might lead to its +elucidation. + +Adelina's first thought was: "Does he know he has been in that state?" +But, of course, he must, or he would not have applied the sentence to +himself. She could see that such a circumstance would wound him +intensely, for she now believed he was aware of his deficiency. + +She felt so regretful of her own carelessness, that she seemed to +overlook the fact that he had accused her most wrongfully, and was +desirous of making such reparation as lay in her power. + +"Ada, you might at least have told me there was another." + +"Another what?" she returned with astonishment. + +It was Ralph's turn to betray excessive surprise. + +"If you loved some one else you could have told me. That, surely, was +due me." + +"To whom do you think my unfortunate words apply?" + +It suddenly occurred to her that it might be possible for Ralph to +assume that a third person was involved. She was glad that Ralph should +be in ignorance of his real condition, for she now began to think he +was; yet she certainly could not do herself the injustice of letting +Ralph think she had voluntarily deceived him to the extent of permitting +him to believe there was another in whom she was interested. + +The previous evening Adelina had acknowledged to Ralph, in response to +his eager inquiry, the fallacy of what she was pleased to term his +absurd beliefs in her power to attract others--not that he believed it, +but he _had_ been led to believe that she did not love any one else. It +began to dawn on Adelina that Ralph might not have applied the words to +himself at all. Here was a dilemma. She could not let Ralph impute such +a deception to her. A thought flashed across her mind--why not let Dr. +Ellis impart the whole sad story to Ralph? She felt that it was cowardly +in her, and yet she realized her own impotence to assume the task. A +more potent cause towards disinclination for the undertaking was her +complete ignorance of the effect of such a disclosure to Ralph. Poor, +bewildered fellow. It seemed to him that everyone had changed. Adelina's +eyes filled with tears. She averted her face, not too soon, however, for +Ralph to note their existence. + +"Forgive me," he said brokenly and humbly; "but this means so much to +me." + +"Here is Dr. Ellis now. Ask him to tell you all." + +"Dr. Ellis? What can he know of our affairs?" + +"Nevertheless, Ralph, do as I say. If he refuses to tell you, then I +must also. I leave you with him." + +Giving a few hasty words of explanation to the doctor, she hastened +away. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A STARTLING REVELATION. + + +Adelina hurried away in order to disclose to Harold and Mary the +decision she had made; namely, the wisdom of no longer concealing from +Ralph his previous condition. On first thoughts, this seemed most +unwise; and yet, assuredly, it would be far less cruel than to let Ralph +continue in the belief that there existed in the woman he loved that +which would lead him to an entire loss of confidence. Adelina knew that +if she persisted in claiming the matter inexplicable, it would only +throw a deeper shadow on the affair, and she could not make the pretense +that Ralph had no right to question her. + +"Adelina," said Harold, "this appears the right thing, in fact, the only +thing to be done. I think uncertainty is one of the worst ills that +falls to the lot of mortals. Now there will be at least something +tangible. I am sure poor Ralph has found something wanting in all of +us. The hardest part was in deciding what should be done. And now, that +you have decided, do not trouble yourself with the outcome." + +A useless caution, for he was not destined to profit by it himself. + +"But, was I right in shifting the responsibility on Dr. Ellis?" + +"Certainly; none but a physician would be capable of understanding the +effect on Ralph's constitution. Ellis has also made psychology a +life-long study." + +"How did you discover that? Through your natural curiosity, of course," +returned Adelina, with a feeble attempt to smile. + +It could readily be seen that no matter how much the three conversed, +thus trying to divert the other's thoughts, each was thinking of the +conversation transpiring not far from them. + +"I cannot think Ralph will be the worse for this knowledge," said Mary, +unconsciously ignoring the fact that Harold and Adelina had opened the +way for a change of topic, by reverting to the subject which more +closely concerned them than a biography of Dr. Ellis, worthy man that +he was. They little knew how much he was gleaning from the interview +with Ralph, and how such knowledge would affect all of them; how Ralph +had information which they were longing to hear, but which he presumed +was already known to them. A stranger may often bring new light upon a +subject, coming as he does without the tacit understanding of past +occurrences which exists among those closely related, or thrown +continually into each other's society. In this case, it would probably +not have devolved upon the newcomer to penetrate the truth, had it not +been that Adelina was anxious to have the matter settled in some way; +for the suspense accompanying her utter ignorance of the reason of +Ralph's strange conduct was telling even upon her strong constitution, +when she might have withstood the ravages of physical pain alone. If she +was miserable, there was certainly cause for the same emotion in Ralph. +He knew of nothing to explain, while Adelina was deterred from rendering +any explanation solely on his account. The explanation was simple +enough, though most unusual. Much anxiety would have been spared the +whole household, had anyone thought of investigating; but who dreams of +asking for information supposedly already possessed? Soon the doctor +entered, pausing on the threshold before he advanced into the room, to +say meekly: + +"What is the countersign? May I enter without it?" + +This was said with an assumption of profound timidity at the stillness +which reigned supreme, and which he affected to believe was exacted by +the inmates of the room. + +"Oh, yes; come in," said Adelina, who was the only one ready to reply. + +Youth often takes the initiative, not from egoism, but its environment +may have fostered the tendency to fill the hiatus which otherwise might +ensue. So much dependence had ever been placed upon Adelina's executive +ability, that this, accompanied by her friends' desire to produce her +happiness in every conceivable way, and to advance her mentally as well, +had produced in the girl most naturally the capability to meet all the +demands of society, also contingencies of greater import. + +"Where did you leave Ralph?" she continued. + +"Oh, he has gone on one of his interminable rambles," was the response. +"For the last few months he has contended that long walks were the one +thing necessary for physical fatigue. All of my theories have been set +at naught. It was in vain that I reminded him of my superior knowledge. +In the end he almost succeeded in making me believe he was right, such +is the power of continued effort. Whenever he found he was regaining +strength, he would undo all of my work, remonstrate as I would." + +Something had surely happened since Adelina left the two friends. + +Dr. Ellis now bore a most radiant look, which was not easy to reconcile +with the interview she knew had taken place. + +"Now, at least," resumed Dr. Ellis, "I am enabled to understand things +which baffled even my acumen." + +Of course, he ended by making all laugh, which they felt quite ready to +do, for there was something in the doctor's manner which invited mirth. +Each one knew that had there not been an alleviating solution of the +trouble, the informant would not have been able to throw off the +despondency which was fast becoming the possession of all. And now, +that something had happened, the reaction was great, and had to be +manifested in some manner by the party. Despite the learning of Dr. +Ellis, Ralph's case had certainly puzzled him. Before undertaking the +case he had been warned of the condition of his prospective patient; +otherwise, the doctor would not have been on the outlook for alarming +symptoms. + +It chanced, however, that such a warning had been entirely unnecessary, +for the alarming symptoms had never come. Ralph's condition, on the +whole, had been encouraging, except as Dr. Ellis stated, when there had +been weakness resulting from over-exertion, a natural sequence. + +Ralph had often alluded to his residence in Australia, and Dr. Ellis +knew him to be ingenuous; and, besides, there could be no reason in +wishing to prove an alibi. Dr. Ellis had it on the authority of +well-known persons that at that identical time his young friend was, +unfortunately, at one of the most prominent hospitals of America. In +attributing similar statements of Ralph to mental weakness, the +physician experienced a startling sensation. Suppose there had been +some mistake. He secretly believed Ralph's mind to be as free from +disease as his own; how it had been with Ralph before his acquaintance +with him, Dr. Ellis was unprepared to say. The latter, believing himself +to be competent to form some estimate of analogous cases, had in +response to an urgent appeal from certain hospital officials, taken the +affair into his own hands; consequently Dr. Ellis was scarcely to be +censured for the conditions which arose. A letter had been sent +notifying him that his services would not be requisite; that the late +patient had died after a painless illness incompatible with the usual +attacks accompanied by superior strength. The letter did not reach Dr. +Ellis. He learned that his surmises had been correct; for Ralph had just +enlightened him; not only sanctioning his conclusions but revealing to +him that which truly gave more pleasure than the veriest mines of +knowledge would. Now he knew that the esteem that he had given his young +friend because of admirable characteristic traits might be endorsed by +respect for his friend's mental ability as well. + +Dr. Ellis felt that it was time to share his newly acquired knowledge +with the others who were equally interested in Ralph, so he straightway +proceeded to relieve the suspense he knew that they were enduring. + +"I think that Ralph purposely absented himself. I proposed that I should +be the one to give an account of our conversation," he said, addressing +his anxious auditors. "You, of course, know that Ralph had a twin +brother. I did not, however, learn it until a few moments ago. Well, +that brother died six months ago, just the time I was first brought into +contact with Ralph. True, the latter mentioned the death of his brother, +and occasional depression seemed only natural. I was, however, on the +alert to discover any sign of what I had been told was Ralph's malady. +Not once did such a sign appear. He told me he had recovered from fever +just before his return to America. As you, in your letter had spoken of +fever also, Miss Tracy, his information coincided with yours, except in +point of time. I first thought that there was a lapse of time of which +he was oblivious. This set me to thinking, and while I believed ere long +that his mind was unaffected, the differing accounts given me, together +with chronological errors, were most bewildering. How could so many +believe themselves in the right? Ralph certainly had confidence in +himself, and your statements were not to be doubted, Miss Tracy. Then, +too, the hospital officials would not have given an incorrect account of +his sojourn in their retreat." + +"It must have been annoying, certainly," interposed Mary, with ready +sympathy. + +"Yes, and to think proper investigation would have spared each one of us +so much," returned the doctor, with emotion. "It does not seem that we +ought to censure ourselves very much, for we never dreamed of +investigating what we were positive was correct. Ralph's brother, +Edward, died in the hospital, believed by all to be Ralph himself. I +left the city soon, accompanied by the real Ralph. He, little knowing +that you had seen so much of Edward, decided to have him buried in the +place where he had died. Ralph must have been overcome with sorrow, for, +otherwise, he would have written of his loss to you, his friends. He had +a short illness almost simultaneously. Though he was able soon to walk +rather long distances, for an acknowledged sick person, he really has +been far from strong." + +"Ralph was never one to parade his griefs," said Adelina, "probably, he +thought he would see us soon, and give the news of his brother." + +"Edward, alias Ralph, was never dangerous to those around him. That was +why he was never taken to an asylum. There were intervals of perfect +sanity," said Mary. + +"Ralph's untimely return to America has caused all of this miserable +misunderstanding. Unfortunate, too, was the miscarriage of the letter +which informed me of Edward's demise. When I discovered Ralph in the +hospital, I took him away as quietly as possible, having already that +authority. Ralph answered to all descriptions, and the authorities +having already written to me, never thought of repeating their +information. Probably I was looked on as a personal friend of Ralph. +They knew him to be all right as far as mind was concerned. How could +they have thought of explaining the affair to two sane people? Ralph was +not moved to a different town until he was stronger. He did not resent +my care of him, but accompanied me home. Had I noted anything strange, +I should have reconciled the strange phenomenon with what I believed was +my patient's condition." + +Dr. Ellis here took time to recover himself, and remained looking +passively out of the window, until Adelina asked: + +"Where, then has Ralph been all of this time? In Australia?" + +Now that she had heard all, she seemed unable to take the evidence her +aural sense had given her. + +"Yes, he has been in Australia until a few months ago. Hereafter, I +shall require of every man his brother's name before making his +acquaintance." + +"How did Ralph take it when you had told him all?" asked Adelina. + +"He was disinclined to believe the whole story, of course. After I had +succeeded in convincing him of its authenticity, he simply said, 'What a +friend you have been.' You can imagine how I felt. To have believed such +things of a friend, and to be exalted for it, too, made me very +uncomfortable. The dear fellow forgave. I felt it in a single grasp of +the hand. Then he left me at break-neck speed, his usual way when he is +agitated." + +"But how is it that we never heard from Ralph, at all? I mean the real +Ralph." + +"Pardon me," said the doctor, looking towards Miss Tracy, "he did write, +and, in turn, wondered at the silence in your quarter." + +"The letter was not received--if it only had been," said Mary, with a +sigh. "After all, the whole trouble comes from the loss of two letters; +the one to you, Dr. Ellis, and the one to us." + +"The letter was accompanied by a small photograph of Ralph, which would +immediately have disclosed to all of you the singular resemblance +between the two brothers." + +"Well, what made Ralph persist in thanking us for caring for his +brother? How did he know that he had ever been in Deanmouth?" asked Mr. +Tracy. + +"I think that was learned from mutual friends just before his arrival; +otherwise, he would have telegraphed the news of his brother's death. At +that time he was not aware of your kind attention to Edward." + +"I must be very obtuse," said Adelina, "but I seem unable to take it +all in. How was it you discovered Edward at all?" she asked, turning to +Harold and Mary. + +"Notices appeared in the papers," answered Harold, "to which we paid +little attention at first, even though the name was precisely that of +Ralph; however, when the notices continued to appear and the friends of +the young man palpably declined to come forward, it occurred to us that +the matter should be investigated. It was, and behold the result. I +wonder now, if in answering the advertisements, we did not do it almost +entirely from feelings of sentimentality. We soon thought ourselves +justified in pursuing inquiries, and yet, how wrong was the conclusion +we drew." + +"I think I see the subject of our talk now," interposed the doctor, +"surely, some one ought to go and meet him." + +His hand approached his face with a futile attempt to hide the smile +which would come. Adelina's face was soon mantled with a slight blush; +but, nevertheless, she bravely rose and made a motion to act upon the +suggestion, knowing that all eyes were upon her, and that the doctor's +remark was made more from a desire to note the effect of it than from +any expectation that it would be materialized. + +"As we are the ones who have unintentionally wronged Ralph, surely, we +are the ones to make the reparation to him, poor boy," said Adelina. + +The "poor boy" was said as though "poor dear" was what was really meant. +That interpretation may only have been from undue exercise of the +imaginative faculty--we shall not presume to say. No one would have +denied the allegation more firmly or indignantly than Adelina. At any +rate, she did not seem to weigh long the question as to which one of the +party was the one to make the advances. If the opportunity was +fortuitous, it was at least most desirable for herself and Ralph, but we +shall come to that later. + +It was not easy for the girl to go immediately to Ralph, but the desire +to talk with him was the dominant sensation, and lesser ills gave way to +personal desire. It would almost have appeared that the suggestion of +Dr. Ellis was premeditated, and not wholly disinterested, for ere long +Miss Tracy and he were seen going in the opposite direction from the way +Adelina had taken. At Harold's instigation, Mary had exchanged letters +with Dr. Ellis, but they pertained only to the condition and affairs of +Edward Bamford. This scarcely justified the doctor in his sudden +interest in his unknown correspondent who was at present a most +desirable companion, in his opinion. Had the letters been of a personal +character, Mary might unconsciously have made them contain a clue, and +probably an interesting one, to her individuality. There was really +nothing to inspire special interest, unless a thorough knowledge of +orthography and rhetoric would count. It seems they did, or was it +something else that had transpired? And they did not talk of Ralph now. +Perhaps the reason for that was they had been discussing him for so +long. + +Nothing was said that a third person could not profitably, or, at least +_willingly_, have listened to. If, with the wish to tease Adelina, there +had been a covert reason for the doctor's maneuver, let us not censure +him too severely. Ralph might really be feeling lonely, left out in the +cold, and so forth. Strange, how he could enter into Ralph's feelings, +and thus analyse them, was it not? And yet, when we consider that he +had made the mind, with its various emotions the study of years, it was +not odd. It seems less strange when we consider that he was experiencing +feelings similar to those he attributed to his young friend; not that +Dr. Ellis had been lonely, strictly speaking, for propinquity to others +was certain when they were in the same room with him. There is isolation +in the largest crowds; in fact, such environment only intensifies at +times our sense of desolation. When one is dying of nostalgia, of little +avail is it then, that others about us speak our native tongue. + +Well, this strategist was far from dying, but the accomplishment of his +designs to converse with Mary alone, certainly gave him a radiant look, +which betokened the best of terms between himself and the entire +sentient world. Why he was giving a detailed account of certain events +in his life to one he had known so short a time, we shall not endeavor +to determine. Suffice it to say, that he was doing so, and Mary was +listening with keen interest to whatever he might have to say regarding +his past life, never questioning why the information was elicited. When +but a lad he had been thrown upon his own resources, and, perhaps, this +knowledge had begotten in Mary a pity for which she could scarcely give +an adequate reason even to herself, had such a reason been demanded of +her. A great amount of pity she had always possessed, much more than the +average person; and yet, in this instance, the subject of her pity had +long passed the time when that pity was really needed, though when is +true sympathy ever unwelcome or repulsed? Intuitively we know when it is +real. Strange, is it not, that knowing this we still proffer the +sympathy which is not genuine, and but a poor substitute for true +fellow-feeling, and which we know must be detected as such by him who is +the enforced recipient of it? Here the interest was not affected. Mary +began to ask herself the cause of her sudden interest in this stranger, +but she soon concluded that it must be solely due to his propinquity to +Ralph during the latter's illness. Of course it was that. She felt +relieved to know the cause, and to know that the excuse was +sufficient--but was it? + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +IN WHICH TWO COUPLES TAKE A WALK. + + +Dr. Ellis proceeded to tell Mary of his boyhood; how he was employed by +a bookseller, who, in return for the lad's services, only continued to +withhold the merited compensation. + +"I remained with him for two years," he went on to say. "Of course I was +fed, and clothed, after a fashion, but I had no other incentive to work +with him except fear." + +"Why did you not run away?" questioned Mary, with reason. + +"I did, but only to suffer the more from each attempt to gain my +freedom. I was invariably caught. Banks would hear no petitions, and the +curious crowd who witnessed my captures thought little of a runaway lad. +As for interfering, why, the thought of coming between father and son +never entered their heads. When Banks insisted that he was my father, he +was believed, and the word of a child was nothing. Each time I tried to +escape I was flogged, not before others, for the man was too sharp for +that, and was all kindliness when there were spectators. I was +threatened with worse ills if I did not obey. I can see Banks yet, and +hear his voice, as he said, 'You see, your word is doubted. I can prove +that you have apprenticed yourself to me.' Oh, the horror of it!" + +"Was the man usually cruel?" + +"No; only when I crossed him or appeared dissatisfied. It was the +humiliation of it that troubled me, child that I was. I was constantly +watched, and seldom allowed to play with boys of my own age. I believe +now that he feared I should discover that he had no power to control my +movements." + +"And how did you finally obtain your release?" + +"Through the death of Banks, though I would have effected my escape +sooner or later, I feel sure. Banks died, and his nephew fell heir to +all that the former had so carefully hoarded. That same nephew had not +cultivated the society of his uncle while living, strange though you may +think it. Afterwards I took a position in a drug store; the study of +pharmacy doubtless produced in me a desire to use the medicines I had +been analyzing." + +Mr. Bayne here strolled past the two who were thus earnestly engaged in +converse, and, noticing that they were too much engrossed to observe his +proximity, ejaculated, in an undertone, "Well, I declare! Dot _is_ +beginning young, if her secret had aught to do with this affair. She +certainly gave me the impression that her secret was a most important +one, but who would have dreamed that she meant this--and she but a +baby?" Here sheer astonishment ended the monologue, for ere he had taken +many steps another couple appeared, walking toward him. "Now, which did +Dot mean?" he began again; then he checked himself, and turned to see if +he had erred; but, no, there were the two behind him, just where he had +left them, or rather, passed them, as much interested as ever, each with +the other. In front he beheld this new couple possessing an equal +appreciation of the advantages of communication with a desirable +companion. That each did think the other a desirable companion was not +to be doubted for a moment. Dot, in the meantime, had not consciously +betrayed her secret or broken her word; still, older people may guess +at childhood's secrets without trying to elicit confidences, and this +child was habituated to the feeling that her father must share her +thoughts. Now, the very fact that there was something to conceal, +perhaps for the first time in her little life, only tended to give her +an air of importance which was in itself a betrayal. Poor Dot had +followed her father around until in pity he questioned his diminutive +daughter. A few words were all that were necessary to give him an +inkling of what had passed. + +"How did oo know, Papa?" This was equivalent to saying that his surmises +were correct, but he comforted the innocent informant by telling her +that her promise had not been broken, so that she ran off, relieved that +Papa should know, and at the same time congratulating herself upon her +ability to act as confidante. With an omniscient father, what was she to +do? + +Mr. Bayne would have passed on with only a cheerful salutation, had not +Adelina seen his wistful look, and kindly proposed that she and Ralph +should retrace their steps and join him in his homeward walk. Was there +ever one who enjoyed human companionship more than he, or, for that +matter, the companionship of animals either? He seemed to love all +things and wanted to be with them, but it was only his friends who could +really appreciate the man. There was a look in his eyes which appealed +to one; and why? Not because they asked for pity, but rather that they +gave it, even when you knew that he was suffering himself. His wife had +died when Pet was two years old, and Mr. Bayne had hidden his grief +nobly; yet the tell-tale eyes seemed at times to hold depths of sorrow +patiently borne, for would he not see her again, that one who had been +to him all love and tenderness? Had not the light in her dying eyes +bidden him "Wait?" What is the look which comes to our loved ones' dying +eyes? Is it a look of surprise as they are about to enter into a new +life? Surely that look comes but once in a life, and that when the +earthly life is drawing to its close, to be renewed in the glory of an +endless one. How strange it is, that we, who have watched and been at +the bedside of those loved ones, can follow no further, can never +penetrate that mystery or lift the curtain till we, too, are called to +take the same pathway. We turn to find the impress of a smile stamped +on the face, giving to it peace, and seeming to tell of contentment and +well-earned repose. + +Often Mr. Bayne walked about the Tracy grounds, and he was doing so now, +with the palpable hope that he might meet one, at least, of the +household. He never thought of intruding, and it did not occur to him +that his conversation could be welcomed save by those who were +especially interested in him, and who had honored him by their +friendship and leniency, as he chose to express it. He had no cause for +this overweening modesty. Few in rural districts could be more beloved +than he, not that there is not as much individual capacity for loving, +but aggregately there cannot be as much love, owing to the restricted +populace. Individually, he was certainly the object of much love and +veneration. Wherever he went he appeared to carry peace, without +apparent effort. He may have begun by cultivating with persistency the +means of giving comfort, but later one felt that whatsoever he gave of +comfort was given spontaneously. He loved all; what did it matter if +they did not love in return? His mission was to alleviate suffering +when possible; if not, then to impart such truths as would enable the +sufferer to bear the anguish, mental or physical, as the case might be; +not, as before stated, to question whether the love he bestowed so +freely was in any measure returned. That was no concern of his. In his +own immediate family he was in a measure dependent upon the attention of +each member. He had always lived with it. Though it is true that that +affection may have been taken naturally, yet he was always grateful for +it; the fullest reciprocation followed. When the crucial test came he +was willing to surrender all without a murmur. Would the curious +onlookers pronounce him heartless in consequence? There had never been, +and it is safe to add there never would be, a crowd curious alone as to +his welfare, provided he had ever mingled with the crowd. Respect +attended him wherever he went, whether it was in the homeliest of +cottages or at the most elaborate of functions. The latter he did not +have the opportunity or the desire to attend, except at long intervals. +Mr. Bayne was not solicitous regarding the extent of the intervals; the +longer the space, the better. + +"Were you going to run off without even asking how I was?" queried +Adelina, reproachfully. + +"That question was answered the moment I beheld you," responded the +rector, with admirable policy. + +"What a flatterer you are. Of all people in the world, you are the last +who should use deceit." + +"Is not what I intimate most true, Mr. Bamford?" asked Mr. Bayne, +turning to him for confirmation of his asseveration. + +"Most assuredly," returned Ralph, adding mischievously, "Miss Fiske does +not appear to think it possible that you may refer to the healthiness +her countenance portrays, and not the beauty of it." This remark showed +that he and Adelina must be on the best of terms. A few hours previous +he would not have ventured such an utterance, nor would he have had even +the inclination, after the estrangement resulting from what he was +pleased to call Adelina's cruel treatment of him. Afterwards he would +have done anything to condone for having had a single derogatory thought +of her. + +"What in the world have you there?" said Adelina. Could she believe the +evidence of her eyes? If so, then Mr. Bayne had taken to the perusal of +such books as related to the latest feminine modes of dress. Without +impertinence she could ask about them, when her elderly friend was +displaying the plates with such openness and disregard of public +opinion. + +"Oh, these? They are for Dot. Miss Carey, the mantua-maker, had told her +to stop for them, but as I chanced to be passing that way I thought I +might act as purveyor with equal safety." This was said in a deprecatory +manner, as though he had been caught in some act of which he ought to be +ashamed; but until Adelina put the question to him it had never occurred +to him that the carrying of such literary matter and accompanying +illustrations was not the most natural thing for a minister to be +interested in. + +"Dot, you see," he continued, in an explanatory way, "cuts out the +pictures. Doubtless she will read about them when she is older." This +was intended for Adelina's benefit, but she pretended to ignore the +fact. + +"If she does wait to profit by their suggestions until she is older, her +outfit will be a little beyond the times," Adelina could not resist +saying. + +"She calls them paper dolls," he further elucidated. + +"Well," said Adelina, laughing heartily, as they reached the rectory +gate, "tell Dot I'll help keep house for the dolls." + +"Wasn't he an old dear?" cried she, ecstatically, watching Mr. Bayne's +retreating form. + +"Who beside would have thought of carrying such things for a child?" + +"I, that is, I would do as much for you," Ralph promptly responded. + +"Oh, would you? I have a notion to put you to the test, and see what +would come of your fine promises. I suppose I, in turn, should be +expected to follow the child's example, simply to save your feelings, +after you had so inconvenienced yourself, and betake myself to dolls' +housekeeping, too." + +"Why not do it in reality--on a larger scale?" retorted Ralph, who had +the propensity for turning things to his own advantage. Adelina said +nothing. Ralph, feeling that he had possibly scored in his favor, +continued to expatiate on the pleasures of housekeeping. + +"I do not think that your experience can quite justify you in giving an +opinion on the subject," replied Adelina, congratulating herself on not +letting him have everything his own way. + +"No; but experience teaches, and how am I to gain it alone? I am very +docile, dear, and quite willing to learn of you." + +Adelina softened visibly. "Perhaps," she said, thoughtfully, "if you had +me to take care of you, you would be more prudent concerning your +health." + +"I am sure I would," eagerly. "Even Dr. Ellis says I am not careful +enough." + +"Why do you say _even_ Dr. Ellis? It would be more exact to say Dr. +Ellis, together with all rational beings, believes that of you." + +"But you see I do not flatter myself that all rational beings do think +of me," returned Ralph. "If you think of me, it does not seem to signify +whether the rest do or not." + +"How ungrateful to the rest of your friends!" she cried, wilfully +misunderstanding him. + +"You know well enough what I mean, dear. I could live without them, and +their opinions." + +"What a delicately implied compliment. You could live without me, too, +if you only thought so." + +"But if I do not think so, it comes to the same thing in the end. We are +not happy unless we think we are." + +"I don't know whether happiness _is_ produced by asking ourselves +continually if we have reached that state. It seems to me the less +concern we give ourselves regarding our own welfare, the happier we are +in reality. I don't instigate improvidence, however. After all, +happiness may not be the best for us," she added, virtuously. I wonder +if she would have been willing to resign her present contentment. + +"Well, surely you would prefer for me to have joy if possible, and you +certainly know wherein my happiness consists." + +"Oh, Ralph," said Adelina, with a suspicious moisture about the eyes, +"can you ever forgive me for the horrid thoughts I had about you?" + +"On one condition," he responded. "I only wonder now, dear, how you +could have had so much patience with an alleged lunatic." + +"Don't, please, Ralph." Seeing that she was really troubled, he +hastened to say, "Dearest, it is all right now; you were not at fault." + +"I'll never again, as long as I live, judge any one or anything by +appearances." + +"I, too, have learned a lesson, for was I not misjudging you when you +were doing all in your power to save my feelings at the expense of your +own?" + +It was in the evening when our friends were assembled in the little +church of which Mr. Bayne was the rector. Adelina and Ralph were ushered +in first, then came Miss Tracy and a stranger, not her brother, as was +taken note of by the wondering congregation; in fact, Mr. Tracy had +taken a seat in the rear of the church, and had permitted this stranger +to monopolize his sister. Such a thing had never been known to occur, in +the recollection of the Deanmouth people; but as the service had already +commenced, surely that fact ought not to have been taken cognizance of, +nor ought the congregation to have been diverted from the lesson Mr. +Bayne was proceeding to read. The two were utterly oblivious of the +intense interest they were creating. Had Dr. Ellis noticed the movements +betokening restlessness, proofs of inattentiveness, he would not for a +moment have thought that he, a perfect stranger, was eliciting such +interest; and yet it was for that very reason that such was the case. + +But soon there was not one in the congregation that was not all +attention, hanging upon each word of the minister's with breathless +interest, and impatiently awaiting the next. It was an address, not a +sermon, and Mr. Bayne had entitled it "The Sea of Misunderstanding." How +that struck home to five of his auditors! Yet Mr. Bayne was ignorant of +the circumstances which were so vividly recalled to some of his hearers +by his words. Strange to say, not one of the friends so much as glanced +at any of the others, but each knew what was going on in the minds of +the others. Had the minister himself ever misjudged any one? I think +not; yet why should he dwell at such length upon this subject, and so +judiciously interweave the text from whence had arisen his ideas? That +earnest air, that placid face, seemed to bear conviction to those who +heard, and it might not be going too far to say that such might have +been the case had he been conversing in a foreign tongue. I say +"conversing," because it always seemed to his auditors that he was only +talking to them just as he would if he had not been occupying the +pulpit. That is why his manner and the dulcet tones of his voice had in +them alone a certain inexplicable power to produce conviction, even +though the purport of the words had been misinterpreted; not that he +made use of abstruse statements to display his own acumen, as some +speakers obviously do, for he sought only to convey in the simplest +manner to others the truths he had already ascertained. His mission was +being fulfilled. + +All who had attended the service were very quiet on their return home. +Perhaps Adelina and Ralph found more to say than any of the others. + +Two months later they were on board a steamer bound for Liverpool. They +were on the deck, and Adelina had produced a letter from Mary, for about +the fifth time. She was reading it to her husband, and both were +enjoying its contents as though ignorant of what had already been +laughed over and discussed a score of times. Ralph was infinitely amused +to find that Adelina was not even looking at what she was supposed to +be reading--to tell the truth, she knew from memory all that Mary had +written. + +"How many times has she mentioned Dr. Ellis?" asked Ralph. + +"One, two, three," counted Adelina, "four--oh, do you remember Tom +Burnett?" she said, breaking off, and losing count, as her eyes caught +the young man's name. That part she had not read to Ralph before. + +"Yes, I remember him, but what has Mary said about him? I thought some +one else took up her whole attention--and letter." + +"Oh, it is only some of her foolishness. Tom is much interested in Lucy +Malcolm." + +"But that is not all," pursued Ralph, seeing that she was keeping +something back. + +"You provoking boy." Her looks belied her words. "If you must know, Mary +only said he was consoling himself with Lucy." + +"And you wanted to keep the knowledge of that conquest from me?" he +asked, readily taking in the situation--and her hand. + +"No, dear. I'll never keep anything from you now, I fear." + +"And you don't regret anything?" + +"You surely don't mean Tom?" + +This was said with such intense surprise that Ralph could not refrain +from laughing; however, he added, "Are you sure you will never be sorry +you married me?" + +"Never," Adelina said, vehemently. + +And the answer seemed to satisfy him. + + +[Illustration: THE END] + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: There were a few printer's errors which have been +corrected. The original title page of this book was missing and a mock +one has been produced. Words wrapped in underscores (_word_) indicate +that the word was published in italics. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Singular Metamorphosis, by May Evelyn Skiles + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SINGULAR METAMORPHOSIS *** + +***** This file should be named 38715.txt or 38715.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/7/1/38715/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sue Fleming and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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