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your cerebral symptoms interdicted any prolonged mental strain。〃
〃I must consult a few papers；〃 responded Mr。 Rightbody curtly； as
he entered his library。
It was a richly…furnished apartment； morbidly severe in its
decorations； which were symptomatic of a gloomy dyspepsia of art；
then quite prevalent。 A few curios； very ugly； but providentially
equally rare； were scattered about。 There were various bronzes；
marbles； and casts； all requiring explanation； and so fulfilling
their purpose of promoting conversation； and exhibiting the
erudition of their owner。 There were souvenirs of travel with a
history； old bric…a…brac with a pedigree； but little or nothing
that challenged attention for itself alone。 In all cases the
superiority of the owner to his possessions was admitted。 As a
natural result； nobody ever lingered there； the servants avoided
the room； and no child was ever known to play in it。
Mr。 Rightbody turned up the gas； and from a cabinet of drawers；
precisely labelled； drew a package of letters。 These he carefully
examined。 All were discolored； and made dignified by age； but
some； in their original freshness； must have appeared trifling； and
inconsistent with any correspondent of Mr。 Rightbody。 Nevertheless；
that gentleman spent some moments in carefully perusing them；
occasionally referring to the telegram in his hand。 Suddenly
there was a knock at the door。 Mr。 Rightbody started； made a
half…unconscious movement to return the letters to the drawer；
turned the telegram face downwards； and then； somewhat harshly；
stammered；
〃Eh？ Who's there？ Come in。〃
〃I beg your pardon； papa；〃 said a very pretty girl； entering；
without； however； the slightest trace of apology or awe in her
manner； and taking a chair with the self…possession and familiarity
of an habitue of the room； 〃but I knew it was not your habit to
write late； so I supposed you were not busy。 I am on my way to
bed。〃
She was so very pretty； and withal so utterly unconscious of it； or
perhaps so consciously superior to it； that one was provoked into a
more critical examination of her face。 But this only resulted in a
reiteration of her beauty； and perhaps the added facts that her
dark eyes were very womanly； her rich complexion eloquent； and her
chiselled lips fell enough to be passionate or capricious；
notwithstanding that their general effect suggested neither
caprice； womanly weakness； nor passion。
With the instinct of an embarrassed man； Mr。 Rightbody touched the
topic he would have preferred to avoid。
〃I suppose we must talk over to…morrow；〃 he hesitated； 〃this matter
of yours and Mr。 Marvin's？ Mrs。 Marvin has formally spoken to your
mother。〃
Miss Alice lifted her bright eyes intelligently； but not joyfully；
and the color of action； rather than embarrasament； rose to her
round cheeks。
〃Yes； HE said she would；〃 she answered simply。
〃At present；〃 continued Mr。 Rightbody still awkwardly； 〃I see no
objection to the proposed arrangement。〃
Miss Alice opened her round eyes at this。
〃Why； papa； I thought it had been all settled long ago！ Mamma knew
it； you knew it。 Last July； mamma and you talked it over。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 returned her father； fumbling his papers； 〃that is
well； we will talk of it to…morrow。〃 In fact； Mr。 Rightbody HAD
intended to give the affair a proper attitude of seriousness and
solemnity by due precision of speech； and some apposite reflections；
when he should impart the news to his daughter； but felt himself
unable to do it now。 〃I am glad； Alice；〃 he said at last； 〃that you
have quite forgotten your previous whims and fancies。 You see WE
are right。〃
〃Oh！ I dare say； papa； if I'm to be married at all； that Mr。 Marvin
is in every way suitable。〃
Mr。 Rightbody looked at his daughter narrowly。 There was not the
slightest impatience nor bitterness in her manner： it was as well
regulated as the sentiment she expressed。
〃Mr。 Marvin is〃 he began。
〃I know what Mr。 Marvin IS；〃 interrupted Miss Alice； 〃and he has
promised me that I shall be allowed to go on with my studies the
same as before。 I shall graduate with my class； and； if I prefer
to practise my profession； I can do so in two years after our
marriage。〃
〃In two years？〃 queried Mr。 Rightbody curiously。
〃Yes。 You see； in case we should have a child； that would give me
time enough to wean it。〃
Mr。 Rightbody looked at this flesh of his flesh； pretty and
palpable flesh as it was； but； being confronted as equally with the
brain of his brain； all he could do was to say meekly；
〃Yes； certainly。 We will see about all that to…morrow。〃
Miss Alice rose。 Something in the free； unfettered swing of her
arms as she rested them lightly； after a half yawn； on her lithe
hips； suggested his next speech； although still distrait and
impatient。
〃You continue your exercise with the health…lift yet； I see。〃
〃Yes； papa； but I had to give up the flannels。 I don't see how
mamma could wear them。 But my dresses are high…necked； and by
bathing I toughen my skin。 See！〃 she added； as； with a child…like
unconsciousness； she unfastened two or three buttons of her gown；
and exposed the white surface of her throat and neck to her father；
〃I can defy a chill。〃
Mr。 Rightbody； with something akin to a genuine playful； paternal
laugh； leaned forward and kissed her forehead。
〃It's getting late； Ally；〃 he said parentally； but not dictatorially。
〃Go to bed。〃
〃I took a nap of three hours this afternoon；〃 said Miss Alice； with
a dazzling smile； 〃to anticipate this dissipation。 Good…night；
papa。 To…morrow； then。〃
〃To…morrow；〃 repeated Mr。 Rightbody； with his eyes still fixed upon
the girl vaguely。 〃Good…night。〃
Miss Alice tripped from the room； possibly a trifle the more light…
heartedly that she had parted from her father in one of his rare
moments of illogical human weakness。 And perhaps it was well for
the poor girl that she kept this single remembrance of him； when； I
fear； in after…years； his methods； his reasoning； and indeed all he
had tried to impress upon her childhood； had faded from her memory。
For； when she had left； Mr。 Rightbody fell again to the examination
of his old letters。 This was quite absorbing； so much so； that he
did not notice the footsteps of Mrs。 Rightbody； on the staircase as
she passed to her chamber； nor that she had paused on the landing
to look through the glass half…door on her husband； as he sat there
with the letters beside him； and the telegram opened before him。
Had she waited a moment later； she would have seen him rise； and
walk to the sofa with a disturbed air and a slight confusion； so
that； on reaching it； he seemed to hesitate to lie down； although
pale and evidently faint。 Had she still waited； she would have
seen him rise again with an agonized effort； stagger to the table；
fumblingly refold and replace the papers in the cabinet； and lock
it； and； although now but half…conscious； hold the telegram over
the gas…flame till it was consumed。
For； had she waited until this moment； she would have flown
unhesitatingly to his aid； as； this act completed； he staggered
again； reached his hand toward the bell； but vainly； and then fell
prone upon the sofa。
But alas！ no providential nor accidental hand was raised to save
him； or anticipate the progress of this story。 And when； half an
hour later； Mrs。 Rightbody； a little alarmed； and more indignant at
his violation of the doctor's rules； appeared upon the threshold；
Mr。 Rightbody lay upon the sofa； dead！
With bustle； with thronging feet； with the irruption of strangers；
and a hurrying to and fro； but； more than all； with an impulse and
emotion unknown to the mansion when its owner was in life； Mrs。
Rightbody strove to call back the vanished life； but in vain。 The
highest medical intelligence； called from its bed at this strange
hour； saw only the demonstration of its theories made a year
before。 Mr。 Rightbody was deadwithout doubt； without mystery；
even as a correct man should dielogically； and indorsed by the
highest medical authority。
But even in the confusion； Mrs。 Rightbody managed to speed a
messenger to the telegraph…office for a