The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-27
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
(Continued.)

Although Count Fosco's. letter TO Mr..
Fairlfs did not mention ihe address OF
the asylum. that Important omission cast
no difrcultiss in Miss He ncombes way.
When Mr.. Harrright had n let Anne Cath
erick at Limneridge, she had informed
him of the locality in WI och the house
was situated; and Miss Haicombe had
noted down the direction In her diary.
with all the other particulars Of the In
teryiew, exactly as she heard them from
Mr.. Hartright's own lips. accordingly. she
looked back at the entry. and extracted
the address; furnished herself with the
Counts letter to Mr. Fairhtt, as species
of credential which might be useful 10
her: and started by he tself for the
asylum, on the 11th OF October.
She passed the night OF the eleventh
IN London. II had been her intention TO
sIeep at the house inhabited by Lady
Glyde's old governees: but Mrs. Vesey's 3
agitation at the sight OF her lost pupil 5
nearest and dearest friend was so dis
tressing that Miss Halcombe considerate-
ly refrained from remaining In her pres
ence. and removed TO respectable
boarding house. recommended by Mrs
vesey's married sister. The next day
she proceeded TO the asylum. which was
situated not far from London. on the
northern side OF the metropolis.
She was Immediately admitted to see
the proprietor.
At first he appeared to be decidedly un-
willing to let her communicate with his
patient. BAIT on her showing him the
postscript to Count Fosco's letter-on her
reminding him that she was the Miss
Halcombe" there referred To; that she
was a near relative OF the deceased Lady
Clyde; and that she was therefore nat
uraily interested, for family reasons. In
observing for herself the extent OF Anne
Cathericks dhlusion In relation TO her
late sister--the tone and manner OF the
owner OF the asylum altered. and he
withdrew HIS objections. He probably
Yest that a continued refusal, under these
circumstances. would not only be an act
OF discourtesy In itself. but would also
imply that the proceedings in his estab-
Iishment were not OF a nature to bear IN
vestigafion by respectable strangers.
Miss Halcombe's' own impression was
that the owner of the asylum had not
been received into the confidence OF
Sir Percival and the Count.
His consenting at all TO let her
visit his patient seemed 10 afford one
proof of this, and his readiness I'm max
ing admissions which could scarcely
have escaped the kps of an accGnpiice
certainly appeared to furnish another.
For example, In the course or the In
troductory conversation which took
place, he informed Miss Halcombe that
Anne Cafherick had been brought back
to him, with the necessary order and GER
tificates, by Count Fosco, on the twenty
seventh Of July. the Count also proouc-
ing a lester OF explanations and fnstruc-
tions signed by Sir Percival Clyde. On
receiving his inmate again. the proprie-
tor OF the asylum Acknowledged that he
had observed some curious personal
changes in her. Such changes. no doubt.
were not without precedent In his exper-
fence OF persons mentally afflicted. In
sane people were often, at one time. out
ward1y az well as inwardly. unlike what
they were at another: the change from
better TO worse. or from worse to better,
In the madness, having necessary ten
dency to produce alterations OF appear
ance externally. He allowed for these; 4
and he allowed also for the modification
In the form OF Anne Catherick's delusion.
which was reflected. no doubt, in her 1
manner and expression. But he was still
perplexed. at times. by certain differ |
ences between his patient before she had !
escaped and his patient since she had |
been brought back. Those differences |
were too minute to be described-He could |
not say. OF course. that she was absolute |
ly altered in height or shape or COM
plexior, or In the color OF her heir and |
eyes, or In the general form OF her face:
the change was something that he felt.
more than something that he saw In |
short. the case had been a puzzle from I
the first. and one moro perplexity was
added to IL now.
1t can not be said that this converse
ton led to the result OF even partially \
preparing Miss Halcombe's mind for
what was 10 come. But IL produced. new
ertheless, very serious effect upon her
She was 80 completely unnerved by II
that some little time elapsed before she
could summon composure enough to fol-
low the proprietor Of the asylum 10 that
part or the house In which the inmates
were confined
On inquiry, II turned out that the sup
posed Anne Catherick was then taking
exercise In the grounds attached 10 the
establishment. One OF the nurses volun-
teered TO conduct Miss Halcombc 60 the
place. the proprietor OF the asylum re-
naming In the house for a few minutes
to attend 10 a case which required his
services. and then engaging 10 Join his
visitor in the grounds
The nurse led Miss Halcombe TO a dis
tnnt 5art OF the property. which was
prettfly laid out. and. after looking about
her a litt'e, turned into n turf walk
shaded by shrubbery on either side
About halfway down this walk two
women were slowly approaching The
nurse. pointed 10 them and said '-I.her,
IN Anne Catherick. ma'am. with the at
tendant who waits on her. The attend
AIT will answer any questions you wish
20 put" With those words tho nurse LEFT
her. TO return to the duties OF the house.