slightly grizzled, with an impatient movement, off his forehead.
"You don't know what Maggie is to me," he said, abruptly.
He sank into a chair as he spoke, and bent eagerly forward. His voice was full of nervous tension.
"You have known me for years," he continued. "You have known what I used to be before I met her. I was an inhospitable, selfish, egotistical hermit. I hated women, and I only tolerated men. I had an insane desire to shut myself away from the world. I am rich, but it never occurred to me to have to give an account of my stewardship. My agent looked after my property, and I did not care two pins whether my tenants lived, or died, were happy or miserable. Then I met Margaret—Maggie, as I call her. She was different from other girls. Her refined, half shy, and yet bright face stole into my heart before I was aware. I fell in love with her, and immediately the world changed. We had a short engagement, and now we are married a week. During the days which followed our wedding, up to that fatal Thursday when the railway accident occurred, I tasted Paradise. I felt my whole moral nature growing and expanding. Oh, pshaw! why should I go on with this? The old cloud is on me again, and my wife—my wife! Halifax, old fellow, will my wife ever be better?"
"Assuredly," I replied, cheerfully. "I see nothing whatever to cause serious alarm. Mrs. Raymond has got a shock which, instead of producing ordinary concussion of the brain, has affected some of the higher centres in a somewhat unexpected manner. She will not, I fear, recover speedily, but that you will have her the old Maggie, in three months' time at the farthest, I feel convinced."
Raymond sighed heavily.
"Well, I must go to her now," he said. "She hates to have me in the room, and yet she must not be left alone."
"Yes, leave her alone," I replied. "I shall stay near her most of the day. I will endeavour to find someone, some nurse, even if not a trained one, to look after her for the night. You only weaken her tired-out nerve centres by going to her at present. Don't let her see you. I am giving you painful advice, I know, Raymond, but I am sure I am acting for the best."
"What in the world has she taken a dislike to me for?" answered the poor fellow, turning his head aside.
"Oh, that is very often the case. In brain conditions like hers, people are known to turn from their nearest and dearest."
"Maggie is not so bad as that?"
"I have heard of it, in the insane. But, good God! Maggie is not so bad as that?"
"Her condition is temporary," I replied, as evasively as I could; "and now I should like to see the local doctor."
"I don't know anything about him."
"Well," I answered, "there is sure to be a medical man in the place. I had better see him and put Mrs. Raymond into his charge. I'll just go downstairs and inquire his name."
"One moment first, Halifax. Can I move her from this beastly hole?"
