"Whataverystrangetoiletshehasmade!"hethought;"simpleandplaintothelastdegree,andyetsingularlyeffectiveandstriking.
　　Herfingerswereonceloadedwithrings,butshehastakenthemalloff,andnowherhandsareasperfectasherfeatures.Shedoesnotwearasingleornament,savethoseominousponiards.Doesshemeantosignifybythesethatsheiswounded,orthatsheproposestoinflictwounds?Yegods!howstrangely,terribly,exasperatinglybeautifulsheis!Ihavecertainlybothmisjudgedandmisunderstoodher."
　　Thesethoughtspassedthroughhismindashestoleanoccasionalglanceattheirobject,whosatwithherprofiletowardshimalmostinthelineofhisvision.Atthesametimehewasapparentlylisteningtoaprosyandinterminablestoryfromoneofthegroupofwhichhewasamember.Theyhadbeentellinganecdotesoftravel,andthelastspeaker'sexperiencewas,likehisjourney,longanduninteresting.
　　VanBergsoonobservedthatmanyothersbesideshimselfwereobservingMissMayhew.Sheseemedtofascinate,perplex,andtroubleallwholookedtowardsher.Thesingularbeautyandstrikingtoiletmightaccount,inpart,forthelingeringglances,butnotfortheperplexityanduneasinesstheycaused.IfIdahadbeendeadherfeaturescouldnothavebeenmorecolorless;andtheyhadastern,hard,desperateexpressionthatwassadlyoutofharmonywithwhatshouldbetheappearanceofahappyyounggirl.
　　Herpresenceseemedtocauseanincreasingchillandrestraint.
　　Thehealthfulandnormalmindsofthoseabouthergrewvaguelyconsciousofanothermindthathadbeendeeplymoved,shakentoitsfoundations,andsohadbecomealmostabnormalanddangerousinitsimpulses.
　　Thereisaverygeneraltendencybothtoobserveandtoshrinkfromthatwhichisunnatural,andifthedeparturefromwhatiscustomaryisshowninunexpectedandunusualmentalaction,thestrongerbecometheuneasinessanddreadinthosewhowitnessit.
　　AllwhosawIdarecognizedthatshewasnotonlyunlikeherself,butunlikeanyoneinanordinarystateofmind,andpeoplewhowereintimatelookedateachothersignificantly,asiftoask——"WhatisthematterwithMissMayhew?Whatisthematterwithusall?"
　　Wereitnotthatthemaidenoccasionallyturnedaleaf,inordertokeepuptheillusionthatshewasreading,shemighthavebeenastatue,somotionlesswasherform,andsopallidherface.
　　Butshefeltthatshewasperplexingandtroublingthosewhohadwoundedher,andtheconsciousnessgavesecretsatisfaction.Herpastexperiencetaughthertoappreciatestageeffect,and,sinceshemeditatedatragedy,sheproposedthateverythingshouldbeastragicandblood-curdlingaspossible.
　　Thereisusuallybutashortstepbetweenhightragedyandpainfulabsurdity,whichexasperatesuswhilewelaughatit;butpoorIda'sthoughtsweresodesperatelydarkanddespairing,andherexquisitefeatures,madealmosttransparentbygriefandfasting,soperfectlyinterpretedherunfeignedwretchedness,thateventhosewhoknewherbutslightlyweretouchedandtroubledinawaythattheycouldnotexplaineventothemselves.
　　MissBurtonwasevidentlymeditatinghowshecouldapproachIda,whoseemedencasedinarepellantatmosphere.VanBergsawthatStantonlookedanxiousandperplexed,andthatMrs.Mayhewwasexceedinglyworriedandannoyed.Atlasthehastilyapproachedherdaughterandwhispered,"Forheaven'ssake,Ida,what'sthematter?Youlookasifyouhadgoneintomourning."
　　Theyoungladyglancedcoldlyupandsaidstonily:
　　"Youhaveatleasttaughtmetodressappropriately."
　　"Nonsense,"continuedthemother,inalow,irritabletone."Whycan'tyoucheerupandactlikeotherpeople?Don'tyouseeyou'regivingusalltheshivers?"
　　Sheslowlyswepttheroomwithhereyes,andsawthatnotafewcuriousglancesweredirectedtowardsher.Then,withbowedhead,sheglidedfromtheroomwithoutaword.
　　MissBurtoncaughtupwithherinthehall-way."Youareill,MissMayhew,"shesaid,withgentlesolicitude.
　　"Yes,"Idareplied,inthesamestony,repellantmanner;"butyouarenotaphysician,MissBurton.Goodevening."Andshewentswiftlyuptoherownroom,asifdeterminedtospeakwithnooneelsethatevening.
　　ChapterXXXVI.Temptation'sVoiceVanBerghadbeensonearthathecouldnothelpoverhearingMrs.
　　Mayhew'swordswhichhadledtotheabruptandsilentdepartureofherdaughterfromtheparlor.
　　"Thereissomemisunderstandinghere,"hethought,"whoseeffectsarebecomingoutrageouslycruel.Thepoorgirlwasdrivenawayfromthesupper-table,andnowsheisdrivenoutoftheparlor.
　　ShehasbeenananomalyfromthemomentIsawher,andInowmeantofathomthemystery.Herexquisitefaceindicatesthatsheisalmostdesperatefromsomekindoftrouble.Sheisbecomingill——sheiswastingunderit.Sibleywouldbeafatalmaladytoanyrespectablegirl,butImustgiveupallpretenceofskillatdiagnosisifheisthecause;forwereherheartsetonhimwhythemischiefcan'tshegotohimwithallheroldrecklessflippancy?
　　Thereisnoneedofanyelopement,asIkfears.Shecaneasilycompelhermothertogotothecity,andherfatherwouldhavenopowertopreventthealliance,wereshebentuponit.Ibelieveherfamilymisunderstandandarewrongingher,andImayhaveoccasiontogodownonmykneesmyself,metaphorically,andaskherpardonformysuperiorairs."
　　Theseandkindredotherthoughtspassedthroughhismindasheslowlypacedupanddownasidepiazzawhichheoftensoughtwhenhewishedtobealone.Stanton,havinglostMissBurtonfortheevening,soonjoinedhim,andthrewhimselfdejectedlyintoachair.
　　"Van,"hesaid,"Iusedtoberatherself-complacent.IthoughtIhadlearnedtotakelifesophilosophicallythatIshouldhaveagoodtimeaslongasmyhealthlasted.Butto-nightIfeelasiflifewereahorriblyheavyburdenwhichI,anoverladenjackass,mustcarryformanyawearyday.Howlittleweknowwhatweareandwhatisbeforeus!I'vebeenafool;Iamafool!"
　　"Well,Ik,"repliedVanBergwithashrug,"Iimaginethereisapairofus.Myreason——allthat'sdecentinme——refusestoregardSibleyasthecauseofyourcousin'smostevidentdistress.Forheaven'ssakedon'tconfirmyourwordsofthisafternoon,orIshallfeelliketakingthefirsttrain,inordertoescapefromthemostexasperatingparadoxthatevercontradictedaman'ssenses."
　　"Van,youareright.Iammortifiedwithmyselfbeyondmeasure,andIambitterlyashamedthatmyaunt,herownmother,shouldhavesogrosslymisjudgedher.Sibley,nodoubt,IStheoccasionofhertroubleinpart,forsheseemsfairlytowritheunderthefalsepositioninwhichhehasplacedherbyleadingeveryonetoassociatehernamewithhis;butInowbelievethatsheloathesanddetestshimmorethanyouorIcan.Certainlynowomancouldspeakofamaninharsherormorescathingtermsthanshespokeofhimto-night.Well,tosumupthewholemiserabletrough,bytakinghermother'sviewforgranted,ImadesuchamessofitthatIdoubtifsheeverspeakscivillytoeitherofusagain."
　　"Why!wasmynamementioned?"askedVanBerg,quickly.
　　"Yes,confounditall!Whenthingsaregoingwrongthereisamiserablefatalityaboutthem,andtheworstalwayshappens.Sheaskedmepoint-blankifyousharedmyestimateofher,andIsupposegottheimpressionyoudid."
　　"Wellreally,Stanton,"saidVanBerg,withsomeirritation,"I
　　thinkyoumusthavebeenunfortunateinyourlanguage."
　　"Worsethanunfortunate.Thewholeblunderisunpardonable.
　　Still,domejustice.Icouldnotanswerherquestionwithaboldlie.Andwhatwouldhavebeenitsuse?Howcouldyouexplainyourbearingtowardsheratthesuppertable?YourmannerwouldhavefrozenJezebelherself."
　　"Iwasaninfernalfool,"groanedVanBerg.
　　"ItisduetousboththatIshouldsayItoldheryouhadtriedtoformagoodopinionofher,andveryreluctantlyreceivedtheviewhermothersuggested.Isaid,ineffect,youwishedtothinkwellofher,althoughshehadtreatedyousobadly."
　　"Treatedmebadly!Ihavetreatedherathousandfoldworse.She,atleast,hasneverinsultedme,andIcanneverforgivemyselffortheinsultIhaveofferedher.
　　"Well,Ihopetofindherinthemoodtoacceptanapologyinthemorning,"saidStanton.
　　"I'minaconfoundedlyawkwardpositiontoapologize,"growledVanBerg."Anyreferencetosuchanaffairwillbelikeanotherinsult;"andthefriendspartedinanunsatisfactorystateofmindtowardseachother,andespeciallytowardsthemselves.
　　ButthatwasasadandmemorablenighttoIdaMayhew.Shefeltthatitmightbeherlastonearth;forherdarkpurposewasrapidlytakingdefiniteform.
　　shewaspassingintothatunhealthfulconditionofmentalexcitement,inwhichthesalutaryrestraintsofthephysicalnaturelosetheirpower.Intheplaceofdrowsinessandweariness,shebegantoexperienceanunnaturalexaltationwhichwouldmakeanyrecklessfollypossible,ifittooktheguiseofsublimeandtragicaction.
　　Fewrealizetowhatdegreethemindcanbecomewarpedanddisordered,evenwithabrieftime,bytroubleandtheviolationofthelawsofhealth;andsome,byeducationandtemperament,arepeculiarlypredisposedtoabnormalconditions.Sciencehastaughtmenhowtobuildshipswithwater-tightcompartments,sothatifdisastercrushesinononeside,theotherpartsmaysavefromsinking.
　　Therearefortunatepeoplewhoarebuiltonthesamesafeprinciple.
　　Theyhavecultivatedminds,andvariedresourcesinartisticandscientificpursuits.Aboveallelse,theymayhavefaithinGodandabetterlifetocome;suchpossessionsarelikethecompartmentsofamodernship.Fewdisasterscandestroythemall,andinthelossofoneormorethesouliskeptafloatbytheothers.
　　ButitwouldseemthatpoorIda'scharacterhadbeenconstructedwithfatalsimplicity,andwhenthecoldwavesoftroublerushedintherewasnothingtopreventherfromsinkingbeneaththemlikeastone.Hermindwasuncultivated,andart,science,literatureofferedherasyetnoresources,nopursuits.Shehadawoman'sheartthatmighthavebeenfilledwithsustaininglove,butinitsplacehadcomeasuddenandicyfloodofdisappointmentanddespair.
　　Sheloved,withallthepassionandsimplicityofanarrow,yetearnestnature,themanwhohadawakenedthewomanwithinher,andhe,shebelieved,wouldnevergiveheraughtinreturn,savecontempt.Shenaturallythoughtthatshehadbeendegradedinhisestimationbeyondallordinarymeansofredemption;therefore,inherdesperationanddespair,shewasreadytotakeanextraordinarymethodofcompellingatleasthisrespect.
　　Moreover,Idawasimpatientandimpetuousbynature.Shehadalargecapacityforaction,butlittleforendurance.Itwouldbealmostimpossibleforhertoreachwoman'sloftiestheroism,andsit"likePatienceonamonument,smilingatgrief."Itwouldbeherdispositionrathertorushforward,anddashherselfagainstanadversefate,meetingitevenmorethanhalfway.Alltheinfluencesofherlifehadtendedtodevelopimperiousness,willfulness,andnowherimpulsewastoenteraprotestagainstherhardlotthatwasaspassionateandrecklessasitwasimpotent.
　　ApartfromhersupremewishtofillVanBergwithregret,andawakeninhimsomethinglikerespect,thethoughtofdraggingonawretchedexistencethroughtheindefiniteyearstocomewasintolerable.Thecolorhadutterlyfadedoutoflife,andleftitbaldandrepulsivetothelastdegree.
　　Fashionabledissipationpromisedhernothing.Shehadoftentastedthis,totheutmostlimitofpropriety,andwaswellawarethatthegaywhirlhadnothingnewtooffer,unlesssheplungedintothemadexcitementofalifewhichisasbriefasitisvile.Itwastohercreditthatdeathseemedpreferabletothis.Itwaslargelyduetoherdefectivetrainingandlimitedexperience,thatauseful,innocentlife,eventhoughitpromisedtobedevoidofhappiness,wassoutterlyrepulsivethatshewasreadytothrowitawayinimpatientdisgust.
　　AsyetshewasincapableofJennieBurton'sdivinephilosophyof"pleasingnot"herself.hewho"gavehislifeforothers"wasbutanameatthepronunciationofwhich,intheService,shewasaccustomedtobowprofoundly,buttowhom,inherheart,shehadneverbowedorofferedagenuineprayer.Religionseemedtoherasortoffashionwhichdifferedwiththetastesofdifferentpeople.
　　Shewasapracticalatheist.
　　ItisafearfulthingtopermitachildtogrowupignorantofGod,andofthesacredprinciplesofdutywhichshouldbeinwroughtintheconscience,andenforcedbythemostvitalconsiderationsofwell-being,bothforthisworldandtheworldtocome.
　　ButIdaMayhewthoughtnotofGodorduty,butonlyofherthwarted,unhappylife,fromwhichsheshrankweaklyandselfishly,assuringherselfthatshecouldnotandwouldnotendureit.Inherfathershesawonlyincreasinghumiliation;inhermother,oneforwhomshehadbutlittleaffectionandlessrespect,andwhowouldofnecessityirritatethewoundsthattimemightslowlyheal,couldsheliveinanatmosphereofdelicate,unspokensympathy;inherself,onewhomshenowbelievedtobesoignorantandfaultythatthemanshelovedhadturnedawayindisgustonfindingherout.Ifallthiswerenotbadenough,unforeseenandunfortunatecircumstances,evenmorethanherownfolly,hadbroughtaboutahumiliationfromwhichshefeltshecouldneverrecover.Inherblind,desperateefforttohideherpassionfromthemansheloved,shehadmadeitappearthatshewasinfatuatedwiththemansheloathed,andwhohadshownhimselfsuchacontemptiblevillainthatherassociationwithhimwasthescandalofthehouse.Ifherownmotherandcousincouldbelievethatshewasreadytothrowherselfawayforthesakeofsuchawretch,whatmustthepeopleofthehotelthink?
　　Whatkindofastorywouldgoabroadamongheracquaintancesinthecity?Shefairlycringedandwrithedatthethoughtofitall.
　　Itseemedtothetorturedandmorbidlyexcitedgirlthattherewasbutonewayoutofhertroubles,anddarkanddreadfulaswasthatpath,shethoughtitcouldleadtonothingsopainfulasthatfromwhichshewouldescape.
　　Butafterall,herchiefincentivetothefatalactwasthehopeofsecuringVanBerg'srespect,andofimplantingherselfinhisheartasanundyingmemory,eventhoughasadandterribleone.
　　Withherideasofthefitnessofthingsthiswouldbeastrongtemptationatbest;butthepresentconditionsofherlife,aswehaveseen,sofarfromrestraining,addedgreatlytothetemptation.
　　And,ashasbeensaid,whiletheactseemedasternanddreadfulalternativetoworseevils,itwasnotrevoltingtoher.Shehadseensomanyofherfavoriteheroinesinfictionandactressesonthestage"shuffleoffthemortalcoil"withthemostappropriateexpressionsandinthemostbecomingtoiletsandattitudes,thatherpervertedandmelodramatictasteledhertobelievethatVanBergwouldregardhercrimeasasublimevindicationofherhonor.
　　Heronlytasknow,therefore,wastoframealetterthatwouldbestaccomplishthisend,andatthesametimewringhissoulwithunavailingregret.
　　Butshewastoosincereandsadtowritediffuselyandvaguely.
　　Afterafewmoments'thoughtsherapidlytracedthefollowinglines:
　　"Mr.VanBerg:
　　"Youfirstsawmeataconcert,andyourjudgementofmewascorrect,thoughsevere.Youreyeshavesincebeenverycoldandcritical.
　　Ihavefollowedyourexploringglances,andhavefoundthatIam,indeed,ignorantandimperfect——thatIwasliketheworm-eatenrosebudthatyoutossedcontemptuouslydownwhereitwouldbetrampledunderfoot.Seldomisthatunfortunatelittleemblemofmyselfoutofmythoughts.IfIdaredtoappealtoGodIwouldsaythatheknowsthatIwouldhavetriedtobloomintoabetterlife,eventhoughimperfectly,ifsomeonehadonlythoughtitworthwhiletoshowmehow.Itistoolatenow.Likemycounterpart,thatyouthrewaway,Ishallsoonbeforgotteninthedust.
　　"Althoughyourestimatehasbeensoharsh,Iwillnotdisputeit.
　　Circumstanceshavebeenagainstmefromthefirst,andmyownfollyhasaddedwhateverwaswantingtoconfirmyourunfavorableopinion.
　　Butto-dayyourthoughtswrongedmecruelly.Youhaveslainallhopeandself-respect.IdonotfeelthatIcanliveafterseeinganhonorablemanlookatmeasyoulookedthisevening.Youbelievedmecapableofflyingtohemanwhoattemptedyourlife——whoinsultedandorphangirl.Youlookedatme,notasalady,butanobjectbeneathcontempt.ThisisahumiliationthatIcannotandwillnotsurvive.Whenyouknowthatihavesoughtdeathratherthanthevillainwithwhomyouareassociatingme,youmaythinkofmemorefavorably.PossiblythememoryofIdaMayhewmayleadyou,whenagainyouseeaworm-eatenbud,tokillthedestroyerandhelptheflowertobloomaswellasitcan.Butnow,likemyemblem,Ihavelostmyonechance.
　　Thenightwasnowfarspent.Hermother,havingbeenrefusedadmittance,hadfumedandfrettedherselftosleep.Thehousewasverystill.Sheopenedherwindowandlookedout.Cloudsobscuredthestars,anditwasexceedinglydark.
　　"ThelongnighttowhichI'mgoingwillbedarkerstill,"sighedtheunhappygirl."Well,Iwillliveonemoreday.To-morrowI
　　willgooutandsitinthesunlightoncemore.IwishIcouldgonow,foralreadyIseemtofeelthechillofdeath.Oh,howcoldIshallbebythistimeto-morrownight!"
　　Sheshudderedassheclosedthewindow.
　　Afterpacingherroomafewmoments,sheexclaimed,recklessly,"Imustsleep——ImustgetthroughwiththetimeuntilIbringtimetoanend,"andshedroppedapowerfulopiateintoaglass.
　　Holdingitupforamomentwithasmileonherfairyoungfacethatwasterriblebeyondwords,shesaidslowly,"Afterallit'sonlytakingalittlemore,andthen——nowaking."
　　ChapterXXXVII.VoicesofNature.
　　Beforeretiring,Idahadunfastenedherdoor,sothathermother,findinghersleeping,mightleaveherundisturbedaslateaspossiblethefollowingday;andthesunwasalmostinmid-heavenbeforeshebeganslowlytorevivefromherlethargy.
　　Butasherstupordepartedshebecameconsciousofsuchacutephysicalandmentalsufferingthatshealmostwishedshehadcarriedoutherpurposethenightbefore.Herheadachewasequaledonlybyherheartache,andherwronged,overtaxednervoussystemwasjanglingwithtorturingdiscord.Butwiththepersistenceofasimpleandpositivenaturesheresolvedtocarryoutthetragicprogrammethatshehadalreadyarranged.
　　Shewasgladtofindherselfalone.Hermother,withherusualsagacity,hadconcludedthatshewouldsleepoffhertroublesassheoftenhadbefore,andsolefthertoherself.
　　Thepoor,lostchildmadesomepatheticattemptstoputherlittlehouseinorder.Shedestroyedallherletters.Shearrangedherdrawerswithmanysuddenrushesoftearsasvariousarticlescalledupmemoriesofearlierandhappierdays.Amongotherthingsshecameacrossalittlebirthdaypresentthatherfatherhadgivenherwhenshewasbutsixyearsofage,andshevividlyrecalledthehappychildshewasthatday.
　　"Oh,thatIhaddiedthen!"shesobbed."Whatawretchedfailuremylifehasbeen!Neverwasthereafitteremblemthantheimperfectflowerhethrewaway.IwishIcouldfindthepoor,withered,trampledthing,andthathemightfinditinmyhandwithhisletter."
　　Shewroteafarewelltoherfatherthatwasinexpressiblysad,inwhichshehumblyaskedhisforgiveness,andentreatedhim,asherdyingwish,toceasedestroyinghimselfwithliquor.
　　"Butitisofnouse,"shemoaned."Hehaslosthopeandcouragelikemyself,andonecan'tbeartroubleforwhichthereisnoremedy.I'mafraidmyactwillonlymakehimdoworse;butIcan'thelpit."
　　Tohermothershewrotemerely,"Good-by.ThinkofmeaswellasyoucantillIamforgotten."
　　Herthoughtsofhermotherwereverybitter,forshefeltthatshehadbeenneglectedasachild,andpermittedtogrowupsofaultyandsuperficialthatsherepelledthemanherbeautymighthaveaidedherinwinning;anditwaschieflythroughhermotherthatherlastbitterandunendurablehumiliationhadcome.
　　Mrs.MayhewbustledinfromherdrivewithStanton,justbeforedinner,andcommencedvolubly:
　　"Gladtoseeyouupandlookingsomuchbetter."Idaknewshewasalmostghastlypalefromtheeffectsoftheopiateandherdistress,butsherecognizedhermother'stactics."Comenow,godownwithmeandmakeagooddinner;thenadrivethisafternoon,towhichIkhasinvitedyou,andyouwilllooklikeyouroldbeautifulself."
　　"Idonotwishtolooklikemyoldself,"saidIdacoldly.
　　"Whointheworldeverlookedbetter?"
　　"Everyonewhohadacultivatedmindandaclearconscience."
　　"Ideclare,Ida,you'vechangedsosinceyoucametothecountrythatIcan'tunderstandyouatall."
　　"Donottrytoanylonger,mother,foryouneverwill."
　　"Won'tyougodowntodinner?"
　　"No."
　　"Whynot?"
　　"Idon'twishto,foronething;andI'mtooill,foranother.
　　Sendmeupsomething,ifit'snottoomuchtrouble."
　　"I'mgoingtohaveadoctorseeyouthisveryafternoon,"saidMrs.
　　Mayhew,emphatically,asshelefttheroom.
　　TodoherjusticeshedidsendupaverynicedinnertoIdabeforeeatingherown.Asfarasdoctorsanddinnerswereconcerned,shecoulddoherwholedutyinanemergency.
　　"Isn'tIdacomingdown?"whisperedStantontohisaunt.
　　"No.Ican'tmakeheroutatall,andshelooksdreadfully.Youmustgoforadoctor,rightafterdinner."
　　VanBergcouldnotheartheirwords,buttheirominouslooksaddedgreatlytohisdisquietude.HehadbeentooillateasetoseekevenMissBurton'ssocietyduringthemorning,andhadspentthetimeinmakingasketchofIdaasshestoodinthedoorwaybeforeenteringtheparlorthepreviousevening.
　　ButJennieBurtondidnotseemtofeelorresenthisneglectintheslightestdegree.Indeed,herthoughts,likehisown,wereapparentlyengrossedwiththeonewhosechairhadbeenvacantsooftenoflate,andwho,whenpresent,seemedsounlikeherformerself.
　　"Ifearyoudaughterismoreseriouslyindisposedthanyouthink,"
　　shesaidanxiouslytoMrs.Mayhew.
　　"I'mgoingtotakeIdainhand,"repliedthematter-of-factlady.
　　"SheISill——farmoresothanshe'lladmit.I'mgoingtohavethedoctoratonceandputherunderacourseoftreatment."
　　"Curseitall!"thoughtVanBerg,"thatisjustthetrouble.Shehasbeenunderacourseoftreatmentthatwouldmakeanywomanill,savehermother,andI'minclinedtothinkthatIwastheveriestquackofthemallinmytreatment."
　　"Iwishshewouldletmecalluponherthisafternoon,"saidMissBurton,gently.
　　"Oh,Ithinkshe'llbegladtoseeyou!——atleastsheoughttobe;"
　　butitwastooevidentthatMrs.Mayhewwasatlastbeginningtogrowveryanxious,andshemadeasimplermealthanusual.Stantoninhissolicitude,hastenedthroughdinner,andstartedatonceforthephysicianwhousuallyattendedtheguestsofthehouse.
　　Ida,inthemeantime,hadforcedherselftoeatalittleofthefoodsenttoher,andtheninformingthewomanwhohadchargeoftheirfloorthatshewasgoingoutforawalk,stoledownandoutunperceived,andsoongainedasecludedpaththatledintoanextensivetractofwoodland.
　　Stantonbroughtthedoctorpromptly,butnopatientcouldbefound.
　　Allthatcouldbelearnedwasthat"MissMayhewhadgoneforawalk."
　　"Hercasecannotbeverycritical,"thephysicianremarked,smilingly;
　　"Iwillcallagain."
　　Stantonandhisauntlookedateachotherinawaythatprovedthecasewasbeginningtotroublethemseriously.
　　"Sheknewthedoctorwouldbehere,"saidMrs.Mayhew.
　　"Ifearhercomplaintisonethatthedoctorscan'thelp,andthatsheknowsit,"repliedtheyoungman,gloomily."Butyouseemtoknowlessaboutherthananyoneelse.Ishalltrytofindher."
　　Buthedidnotsucceed.