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horses like a Homeric hero。 No wild Indian could handle his bark
canoe more dexterously or more vigorously than we have seen you
handling yours。 There must be some reason for your seclusion which
curiosity has not reached； and into which it is not the province of
curiosity to inquire。 But in the irresistible desire which I have to
bring you into kindly relations with those around you； I must run the
risk of giving offence that I may know in what direction to look for
those restorative influences which the sympathy of a friend and
sister can offer to a brother in need of some kindly impulse to
change the course of a life which is not； which cannot be； in
accordance with his true nature。
I have thought that there may be something in the conditions with
which you are here surrounded which is repugnant to your feelings；
something which can be avoided only by keeping yourself apart from
the people whose acquaintance you would naturally have formed。 There
can hardly be anything in the place itself； or you would not have
voluntarily sought it as a residence； even for a single season。
there might be individuals here whom you would not care to meet；
there must be such； but you cannot have a personal aversion to
everybody。 I have heard of cases in which certain sights and sounds；
which have no particular significance for most persons； produced
feelings of distress or aversion that made； them unbearable to the
subjects of the constitutional dislike。 It has occurred to me that
possibly you might have some such natural aversion to the sounds of
the street； or such as are heard in most houses； especially where a
piano is kept； as it is in fact in almost all of those in the
village。 Or it might be； I imagined； that some color in the dresses
of women or the furniture of our rooms affected you unpleasantly。 I
know that instances of such antipathy have been recorded； and they
would account for the seclusion of those who are subject to it。
If there is any removable condition which interferes with your free
entrance into and enjoyment of the social life around you； tell me； I
beg of you； tell me what it is； and it shall be eliminated。 Think it
not strange； O my brother； that I thus venture to introduce myself
into the hidden chambers of your life。 I will never suffer myself to
be frightened from the carrying out of any thought which promises to
be of use to a fellow…mortal by a fear lest it should be considered
〃unfeminine。〃 I can bear to be considered unfeminine； but I cannot
endure to think of myself as inhuman。 Can I help you； my brother'？
Believe me your most sincere well…wisher；
LURIDA VINCENT。
Euthymia had carried off this letter and read it by herself。 As she
finished it； her feelings found expression in an old phrase of her
grandmother's； which came up of itself； as such survivals of early
days are apt to do； on great occasions。
〃Well； I never！〃
Then she loosened some button or string that was too tight； and went
to the window for a breath of outdoor air。 Then she began at the
beginning and read the whole letter all over again。
What should she do about it？ She could not let this young girl send
a letter like that to a stranger of whose character little was known
except by inference；to a young man； who would consider it a most
extraordinary advance on the part of the sender。 She would have
liked to tear it into a thousand pieces； but she had no right to
treat it in that way。 Lurida meant to send it the next morning； and
in the mean time Euthymia had the night to think over what she should
do about it。
There is nothing like the pillow for an oracle。 There is no voice
like that which breaks the silenceof the stagnant hours of the
night with its sudden suggestions and luminous counsels。 When
Euthymia awoke in the morning； her course of action was as clear
before her as if it bad been dictated by her guardian angel。 She
went straight over to the home of Lurida； who was just dressed for
breakfast。
She was naturally a little surprised at this early visit。 She was
struck with the excited look of Euthymia； being herself quite calm；
and contemplating her project with entire complacency。
Euthymia began； in tones that expressed deep anxiety。
〃I have read your letter； my dear； and admired its spirit and force。
It is a fine letter； and does you great credit as an expression of
the truest human feeling。 But it must not be sent to Mr。 Kirkwood。
If you were sixty years old； perhaps if you were fifty； it might be
admissible to send it。 But if you were forty； I should question its
propriety； if you were thirty； I should veto it； and you are but a
little more than twenty。 How do you know that this stranger will not
show your letter to anybody or everybody？ How do you know that he
will not send it to one of the gossiping journals like the 'Household
Inquisitor'？ But supposing he keeps it to himself； which is more
than you have a right to expect； what opinion is he likely to form of
a young lady who invades his privacy with such freedom？ Ten to one
he will think curiosity is at the bottom of it；and；come； don't be
angry at me for suggesting it；may there not be a little of that
same motive mingled with the others？ No； don't interrupt me quite
yet； you do want to know whether your hypothesis is correct。 You are
full of the best and kindest feelings in the world； but your desire
for knowledge is the ferment under them just now； perhaps more than
you know。〃
Lurida's pale cheeks flushed and whitened more than once while her
friend was speaking。 She loved her too sincerely and respected her
intelligence too much to take offence at her advice； but she could
not give up her humane and sisterly intentions merely from the fear
of some awkward consequences to herself。 She had persuaded herself
that she was playing the part of a Protestant sister of charity； and
that the fact of her not wearing the costume of these ministering
angels made no difference in her relations to those who needed her
aid。
〃I cannot see your objections in the light in which they appear to
you；〃 she said gravely。 〃It seems to me that I give up everything
when I hesitate to help a fellow…creature because I am a woman。 I am
not afraid to send this letter and take all the consequences。〃
〃Will you go with me to the doctor's； and let him read it in our
presence？ And will you agree to abide by his opinion； if it
coincides with mine？〃
Lurida winced a little at this proposal。 〃I don't quite like；〃 she
said； 〃showing this letter toto〃 she hesitated； but it had to come
out〃to a man； that is； to another man than the one for whom it was
intended。〃
The neuter gender business had got a pretty damaging side…hit。
〃Well； never mind about letting him read the letter。 Will you go
over to his house with me at noon； when he comes back after his
morning visits； and have a talk over the whole matter with him？ You
know I have sometimes had to say must to you； Lurida； and now I say
you must go to the doctor's with me and carry that letter。〃
There was no resisting the potent monosyllable as the sweet but firm
voice delivered it。 At noon the two maidens rang at the doctor's
door。 The servant said he had been at the house after his morning
visits； but found a hasty summons to Mr。 Kirkwood； who had been taken
suddenly ill and wished to see him at once。 Was the illness
dangerous？ The servant…maid did n't know； but thought it was pretty
bad； for Mr。 Paul came in as white as a sheet； and talked all sorts
of languages which she couldn't understand； and took on as if he
thought Mr。 Kirkwood was going to die right off。
And so the hazardous question about sending the letter was disposed
of； at least for the present。
XVII
Dr。 BUTTS'S PATIENT。
The physician found Maurice just regaining his heat after a chill of
a somewhat severe character。 He knew too well what this meant； and
the probable series of symptoms of which it was the prelude。 His
patient was not the only one in the neighborhood who was attacked in
this way。 The autumnal fevers to which our country towns are
subject； in the place of those 〃agues；〃 or intermittents； so largely
prevalent in the South and West； were already beginning； and Maurice；
who had exposed himself in the early and late hours of the dangerous
season； must be expected to go through the regular stages of this
always serious and not rarely fatal disease。
Paolo； his faithful servant； would fain have taken the sole charge of
his master during his illness。 But the doctor insisted that he must
have a nurse to help him in his task； which was likely to be long and
exhausting。
At the mention of the word 〃nurse〃 Paolo turned white； and exclaimed
in an agitated and thoroughly frightened way；
〃No！ no nuss！ no woman！ She kill him！ I stay by him day