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get away from him as fast as she could。 As it was； it was a long
time before his agitation subsided； and his heart beat with its
common force and frequency。
Dr。 Butts was not a male gossip nor a matchmaking go…between。 But he
could not help thinking what a pity it was that these two young
persons could not come together as other young people do in the
pairing season； and find out whether they cared for and were fitted
for each other。 He did not pretend to settle this question in his
own mind； but the thought was a natural one。 And here was a gulf
between them as deep and wide as that between Lazarus and Dives。
Would it ever be bridged over？ This thought took possession of the
doctor's mind； and he imagined all sorts of ways of effecting some
experimental approximation between Maurice and Euthymia。 From this
delicate subject he glanced off to certain general considerations
suggested by the extraordinary history he had been reading。 He began
by speculating as to the possibility of the personal presence of an
individual making itself perceived by some channel other than any of
the five senses。 The study of the natural sciences teaches those who
are devoted to them that the most insignificant facts may lead the
way to the discovery of the most important； all…pervading laws of the
universe。 From the kick of a frog's hind leg to the amazing triumphs
which began with that seemingly trivial incident is a long； a very
long stride if Madam Galvani had not been in delicate health； which
was the occasion of her having some frog…broth prepared for her； the
world of to…day might not be in possession of the electric telegraph
and the light which blazes like the sun at high noon。 A common…
looking occurrence； one seemingly unimportant； which had hitherto
passed unnoticed with the ordinary course of things； was the means of
introducing us to a new and vast realm of closely related phenomena。
It was like a key that we might have picked up； looking so simple
that it could hardly fit any lock but one of like simplicity； but
which should all at once throw back the bolts of the one lock which
had defied the most ingenious of our complex implements and open our
way into a hitherto unexplored territory。
It certainly was not through the eye alone that Maurice felt the
paralyzing influence。 He could contemplate Euthymia from a distance；
as he did on the day of the boat…race； without any nervous
disturbance。 A certain proximity was necessary for the influence to
be felt； as in the case of magnetism and electricity。 An atmosphere
of danger surrounded every woman he approached during the period when
her sex exercises its most powerful attractions。 How far did that
atmosphere extend； and through what channel did it act？
The key to the phenomena of this case； he believed； was to be found
in a fact as humble as that which gave birth to the science of
galvanism and its practical applications。 The circumstances
connected with the very common antipathy to cats were as remarkable
in many points of view as the similar circumstances in the case of
Maurice Kirkwood。 The subjects of that antipathy could not tell what
it was which disturbed their nervous system。 All they knew was that
a sense of uneasiness； restlessness； oppression； came over them in
the presence of one of these animals。 He remembered the fact already
mentioned； that persons sensitive to this impression can tell by
their feelings if a cat is concealed in the apartment in which they
may happen to be。 It may be through some emanation。 It may be
through the medium of some electrical disturbance。 What if the
nerve…thrills passing through the whole system of the animal
propagate themselves to a certain distance without any more regard to
intervening solids than is shown by magnetism？ A sieve lets sand
pass through it； a filter arrests sand； but lets fluids pass； glass
holds fluids； but lets light through； wood shuts out light； but
magnetic attraction goes through it as sand went through the sieve。
No good reasons can be given why the presence of a cat should not
betray itself to certain organizations； at a distance； through the
walls of a box in which the animal is shut up。 We need not
disbelieve the stories which allege such an occurrence as a fact and
a not very infrequent one。
If the presence of a cat can produce its effects under these
circumstances； why should not that of a human being under similar
conditions； acting on certain constitutions； exercise its specific
influence？ The doctor recalled a story told him by one of his
friends； a story which the friend himself heard from the lips of the
distinguished actor； the late Mr。 Fechter。 The actor maintained that
Rachel had no genius as an actress。 It was all Samson's training and
study； according to him； which explained the secret of her wonderful
effectiveness on the stage。 But magnetism； he said；magnetism； she
was full of。 He declared that he was made aware of her presence on
the stage； when he could not see her or know of her presence
otherwise； by this magnetic emanation。 The doctor took the story for
what it was worth。 There might very probably be exaggeration；
perhaps high imaginative coloring about it； but it was not a whit
more unlikely than the cat…stories； accepted as authentic。 He
continued this train of thought into further developments。 Into this
series of reflections we will try to follow him。
What is the meaning of the halo with which artists have surrounded
the heads of their pictured saints； of the aureoles which wraps them
like a luminous cloud？ Is it not a recognition of the fact that
these holy personages diffuse their personality in the form of a
visible emanation； which reminds us of Milton's definition of light：
〃Bright effluence of bright essence increate〃？
The common use of the term influence would seem to imply the
existence of its correlative； effluence。 There is no good reason
that I can see； the doctor said to himself； why among the forces
which work upon the nervous centres there should not be one which
acts at various distances from its source。 It may not be visible
like the 〃glory〃 of the painters； it may not be appreciable by any
one of the five senses； and yet it may be felt by the person reached
by it as much as if it were a palpable presence；more powerfully；
perhaps； from the mystery which belongs to its mode of action。
Why should not Maurice have been rendered restless and anxious by the
unseen nearness of a young woman who was in the next room to him；
just as the persons who have the dread of cats are made conscious of
their presence through some unknown channel？ Is it anything strange
that the larger and more powerful organism should diffuse a
consciousness of its presence to some distance as well as the
slighter and feebler one？ Is it strange that this mysterious
influence or effluence should belong especially or exclusively to the
period of complete womanhood in distinction from that of immaturity
or decadence？ On the contrary； it seems to be in accordance with all
the analogies of nature；analogies too often cruel in the sentence
they pass upon the human female。
Among the many curious thoughts which came up in the doctor's mind
was this； which made him smile as if it were a jest； but which he
felt very strongly had its serious side； and was involved with the
happiness or suffering of multitudes of youthful persons who die
without telling their secret：
How many young men have a mortal fear of woman； as woman； which they
never overcome； and in consequence of which the attraction which
draws man towards her； as strong in them as in others；oftentimes；
in virtue of their peculiarly sensitive organizations； more potent in
them than in others of like age and conditions；in consequence of
which fear； this attraction is completely neutralized； and all the
possibilities of doubled and indefinitely extended life depending
upon it are left unrealized！ Think what numbers of young men in
Catholic countries devote themselves to lives of celibacy。 Think how
many young men lose all their confidence in the presence of the young
woman to whom they are most attracted； and at last steal away from a
companionship which it is rapture to dream of and torture to endure；
so does the presence of the beloved object paralyze all the powers of
expression。 Sorcerers have in all time and countries played on the
hopes and terrors of lovers。 Once let loose a strong impulse on the
centre of inhibition； and the warrior who had faced bayonets and
batteries becomes a coward whom the well…dressed hero of the ball…
room and leader of the German will put to ignominious flight in five
minutes of easy； audacious familiarity with his lady…love。
Yes； the doctor went on with his reflections； I do not know that I
have seen the term Gynophobia before I opened this manuscript； but I