Year: 1873

room. and without taking the least notice ! of mo. walked to an easy chair. and seat ing himself in ii, gazed at the fire as if his whole thoughts were concentrated on it. confess I was little nettled at this behavior, so said nothing to him, but let him sit quietly Presently the man came into the room and told us dinner was on the table Stlll my husband made no remark l rose from my chair. and was on the point of leaving the room, when, not wishing 10 appear unkind, | turned round to speak to him. To my surprise, found him still in the same position, gazing st the fire. apparently unconscious even of the footman's en- trance then went to him, and touch ing him gently on the shoulder, said, My dear, did you not hear the man say 1 dinner was ready?' He looked round at me, and for moment stared vacantly in my face Then, rising from his chair, he gave me his arm, and as he moved toward the door, said, less as if speaking to me than thinking aloud, I thought We had dined.'"

 Do not let that alarm you,' said. l s'Very possibly Mr. K had had fatigu- eupied at the time with something which deeply interested him. or, perhaps. caus- ed him some anxiety"

 ''What anxiety" she said, somewhat sharply.

 s'That, of course, do not know" I re- piled. ''I merely mentioned it as a cause for the state of deep abstraction he ap- pears to have been in"

 ''Of course there is nothing whatever for him to be anxious about" said Mrs. X.; ''and that worries me the more" :" Here she was silent for a moment, as if she wished it to be so. Then, as if pur- posely making an abrupt change in the current of her thoughts. she continued: ''What l want to speak to- you particular ly about, took place yesterday evening. We were at dipner, and it struck me that he ate with Q good deal more appetite than usual, which pleased me greatly. To tell you tine truth, I had begun to be alarmed about him, having heard he had taken no breakfast. before leaving the house in the morning. Not being very we'll myself, did not get up in time to see him before he went. We'll, we had nearly finished dinner, when he said he did not feel very well; and rising from his chair, as If to leave the room, he fell senseless on the floor in a fainting fit. With soms difficulty we managed to get him round, and I told the man to go of for you at once. Mir. K, however, for bade him, as he said he should soon be better. I determined, however. as soon as he left the house this morning. to write to you; so. if you see him, you must not let him know that I have spoken to you on the subject"

 Certainly not. replied. "But, if he tainted yesterday evening, you ought not to let him leave the house this morning. |"

 "How could l help it?" she said. ''I have now no control over him whatever What do you think caused his fainting fit last evening""

 You say that he had no breakfast in the morning, and possibly he may have had no luncheon in the middle of the day. If so, the hearty dinner of which he had rapidly partaken might rather have in l than strengthened him. But unless see him it will be impossible for me to pre- scribe for him."

 '.Well. call some day. Tomorrow. Sunday, he IS sure to be in. Merely come as if you were paying us a visit, and then you will be better able to judge of his state of health than by any description 1 can give of it..

 | I promised I would do so, and after a little more conversation with Mrs. K. on general subjects took my leave.

 The following day, according to our ar rangement, I called again i'll - Square, and found Mrs. X. at home. Although l when first saw him he was surrounded by his family, and of whom he was in- tensely fond, and generally most cheer ful when in their society, he now appear ed gloomy and abstracted He was also exceedingly pale, and there was an ap- pearance of strong anxiety over his fea- lures. So deeply was it marked as total ly to conceal the expression of failing health, or malady, from which he was ev- idently suffering. So absorbed was he when entered that he appeared unable to recall my features, and he gazed at me for moment with Q bew1ldered look. On one of his children calling me by my name he recovered himself, and received me in his usual friendly manner. We entered into conversation on general sub- iects, Mrs. K, who was seated at the far ther end of the room, watching us atten- lively the while.

 After we had conversed for some few minutes he suddenly turned his gaze up on his wife, and slight flush, apparently of anger, appeared on his countenance,

 

 looked at me, and regarded me with eyi- dent suspicion Still, we carried on the conversion for sometime, he occasionally giving me that furtive, suspicious glance which patient in the first stage of men, tai disease so frequently casts on any medical man he may be talking with, and who he imagines may probably be trying to detect the malady he himself is aware he Is suffering from. After little time, however, MT. K. became more himself, and when had finished my visit, and was leaving the room, he accompanied me down stairs. When opposite his study door he somewhat abruptly said to me: | "Come in here, Doctor; I want to speak to you"

 I Iwent in, and as soon as he had closed the door, he said:

 "I see that my wife has told you of my fainting fit the other evening" was somewhat puzzled what reply to make, when he continued, t'I will not trouble you for reply; but now tell me candidly did she say anything else ?''

 remained silent for some seconds, un- able to conjure up an excuse to avoid the question. MT. X. evidently saw my em- barrassment, and said .saf

 t'Now, Doctor, let uss clearly under stand each other. I must have a reply, ii we are to continue friends"

 "Well," said, 'sI hardly know wheth. CT it breach of professional esiquette on my part, but she merely, told me she was in considerable alarm about youl health, and that you seemed extremely abstracted and anxious. ''

 'I won't ask you any further question Doctor" he said; Although can easily perceive my wife said more about me and that she herself is anxious as to the state of my mind. And she has good cause to be so, he continued, his voice faltering, and regarding me the while :. with a terrified look-s'she has good req son to be SO. am-"

 ':Be assured of this, " I said, interrupt ing him. nothing is more likely to bring