She saw the artist looking at her with
stern, white face, and heard him mutter: "What were you to me
that you should commit this awful deed and lay it at my door, thus
blighting a life full of the richest promise with your horrible
shadow?"
"Thank God, thank God!" she cried passionately. "It's all like a
dreadful dream and never happened."
"Why, Ida, what IS the matter?" said Mrs. Mayhew, coming in hastily.
"I had a bad dream," said Ida, with something like a low sob.
"Ida, I want you to see the doctor, to-day. You haven't acted like
yourself for over two weeks."
"Mother, what time is it?"
"Ten o'clock and after."
"Please draw the curtain. I want to see the sunlight."
"The sun is very hot to-day."
"Is it?" Then under her breath she murmured: "Thank God, so it
is."
She arose and began making her toilet slowly, for the languor of
her long sleep and excessive fatigue was on her still. But thought
was very busy. The subject uppermost in her mind was the promised
visit to old Mr. Eltinge, and she resolved to go at once, if it
were a possible thing. Mrs. Mayhew having again referred to her
purpose of sending for a physician, Ida turned to her and said,
decisively:
"Mother, do you not realize that I am not a child? What is the use
of sending for a doctor when I will not see him? I ask--I insist
that you and Mr.
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