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what is worseyou believe in your own opinion； you persist in your own
conclusionwith the newspaper before you！ Do you； or do you not；
believe the newspaper？〃
〃I believe in what I saw last night。〃
〃In what you saw last night！ You； an educated woman； a clever woman；
believing in a vision of your own fancya mere dream！ I wonder you are
not ashamed to acknowledge it！〃
〃Call it a dream if you like； Lucy。 I have had other dreams at other
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timesand I have known them to be fulfilled。〃
〃Yes！〃 said Mrs。 Crayford。 〃For once in a way they may have been
fulfilled； by chanceand you notice it； and remember it； and pin your faith
on it。 Come； Clara； be honest！What about the occasions when the chance
has been against you； and your dreams have not been fulfilled？ You
superstitious people are all alike。 You conveniently forget when your
dreams and your presentiments prove false。 For my sake； dear； if not for
your own；〃 she continued； in gentler and tenderer tones； 〃try to be more
reasonable and more hopeful。 Don't lose your trust in the future； and your
trust in God。 God； who has saved my husband； can save Frank。 While
there is doubt； there is hope。 Don't embitter my happiness； Clara！ Try to
think as I thinkif it is only to show that you love me。〃
She put her arm round the girl's neck； and kissed her。 Clara returned
the kiss； Clara answered； sadly and submissively；
〃I do love you； Lucy。 I _will_ try。〃
Having answered in those terms； she sighed to herself； and said no
more。 It would have been plain； only too plain； to far less observant eyes
than Mrs。 Crayford's that no salutary impression had been produced on her。
She had ceased to defend her own way of thinking； she spoke of it no
morebut there was the terrible conviction of Frank's death at Wardour's
hands rooted as firmly as ever in her mind！ Discouraged and distressed；
Mrs。 Crayford left her； and walked back toward the house。
Chapter 15。
At the drawing…room window of the villa there appeared a polite little
man； with bright intelligent eyes； and cheerful sociable manners。 Neatly
dressed in professional black； he stood； self…proclaimed； a prosperous
country doctorsuccessful and popular in a wide circle of patients and
friends。 As Mrs。 Crayford approached him； he stepped out briskly to meet
her on the lawn； with both hands extended in courteous and cordial
greeting。
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〃My dear madam； accept my heartfelt congratulations！〃 cried the
doctor。 〃I have seen the good news in the paper； and I could hardly feel
more rejoiced than I do now if I had the honor of knowing Lieutenant
Crayford personally。 We mean to celebrate the occasion at home。 I said to
my wife before I came out； 'A bottle of the old Madeira at dinner to…day；
mind！to drink the lieutenant's health； God bless him！' And how is our
interesting patient？ The news is not altogether what we could wish； so far
as she is concerned。 I felt a little anxious； to tell you the truth； about the
effect of it； and I have paid my visit to…day before my usual time。 Not that
I take a gloomy view of the news myself。 No！ There is clearly a doubt
about the correctness of the information； so far as Mr。 Aldersley is
concernedand that is a point； a great point in Mr。 Aldersley's favor。 I give
him the benefit of the doubt； as the lawyers say。 Does Miss Burnham give
him the benefit of the doubt too？ I hardly dare hope it； I confess。〃
〃Miss Burnham has grieved and alarmed me；〃 Mrs。 Crayford answered。
〃I was just thinking of sending for you when we met here。〃
With those introductory words； she told the doctor exactly what had
happened； repeating not only the conversation of that morning between
Clara and herself； but also the words which had fallen from Clara； in the
trance of the past night。
The doctor listened attentively。 Little by little； its easy smiling
composure vanished from his face； as Mrs。 Crayford went on； and left him
completely transformed into a grave and thoughtful man。
〃Let us go and look at her；〃 he said。
He seated himself by Clara's side； and carefully studied her face； with
his hand on her pulse。 There was no sympathy here between the dreamy
mystical temperament of the patient and the downright practical character
of the doctor。 Clara secretly disliked her medical attendant。 She submitted
impatiently to the close investigation of which he made her the object。 He
questioned herand she answered irritably。 Advancing a step further （the
doctor was not easily discouraged） he adverted to the news of the
Expedition； and took up the tone of remonstrance which had been already
adopted by Mrs。 Crayford。 Clara declined to discuss the question。 She rose
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with formal politeness； and requested permission to return to the house。
The doctor attempted no further resistance。 〃By all means； Miss
Burnham；〃 he answered； resignedlyhaving first cast a look at Mrs。
Crayford which said plainly； 〃Stay here with me。〃 Clara bowed her
acknowledgments in co ld silence； and left them together。 The doctor's
bright eyes followed the girl's wasted； yet still graceful figure as it slowly
receded from view； with an expression of grave anxiety which Mrs。
Crayford noticed with grave misgiving on her side。 He said nothing； until
Clara had disappeared under the veranda which ran round the garden…side
of the house。
〃I think you told me；〃 he began； 〃that Miss Burnham has neither father
nor mother living？〃
〃Yes。 Miss Burnham is an orphan。〃
〃Has she any near relatives？〃
〃No。 You may speak to me as her guardian and her friend。 Are you
alarmed about her？〃
〃I am seriously alarmed。 It is only two days since I called here last；
and I see a marked change in her for the worsephysically and morally； a
change for the worse。 Don't needlessly alarm yourself！ The case is not； I
trust； entirely beyond the reach of remedy。 The great hope for us is the
hope that Mr。 Aldersley may still be living。 In that event； I should feel no
misgivings about the future。 Her marriage would make a healthy and a
happy woman of her。 But as things are； I own I dread that settled
conviction in her mind that Mr。 Aldersley is dead； and that her own death
is soon to follow。 In her present state of health this idea （haunting her as it
certainly will night and day） will have its influence on her body as well as
on her mind。 Unless we can check the mischief； her last reserves of
strength will give way。 If you wish for other advice； by all means send for
it。 You have my opinion。〃
〃I am quite satisfied with your opinion；〃 Mrs。 Crayford replied。 〃For
God's sake； tell me； what can we do？〃
〃We can try a complete change；〃 said the doctor。 〃We can remove her
at once from this place。〃
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〃She will refuse to leave it；〃 Mrs。 Crayford rejoined。 〃I have more than
once proposed a change to herand she always says No。〃
The doctor paused for a moment； like a man collecting his thoughts。
〃I heard something on my way here；〃 he proceeded； 〃which suggests
to my mind a method of meeting the difficulty that you have just
mentioned。 Unless I am entirely mistaken； Miss Burnham will not say No
to the change that I have in view for her。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Mrs。 Crayford； eagerly。
〃Pardon me if I ask you a question； on my part； before I reply；〃 said
the doctor。 〃Are you fortunate enough to possess any interest at the
Admiralty？〃
〃Certainly。 My father is in the Secretary's office； and two of the L