"So far, although I have mesmerized her often for many years, I have refrained from questioning her while entranced, permitting her to talk or not as she felt inclined.--That reminds me of a symbol she gave me the last time she was in the trance. She was silent a long time, then she became suddenly very restless, and began to beat something away with her hands. I felt her heart beating very rapidly, and said, 'What is it, Alice? Can I help you? Do you wish to waken?' She answered, 'Yes. I cannot help you now, but I will by and by, for you have been so good to mother and Merle and me. We do not want you to suffer. I can go through it when it comes, but Merle cannot, for I see him failing, while I have a desire to go into it.'

"'Go into what?' I said. She answered, 'That awful, black cloud that envelops you so I can scarcely see you. I will find you and bring you out.' I saw she was becoming so agitated I brought her back rather than see her suffer, especially on my account. She, of course, had no remembrance upon awaking of anything that had transpired in the trance, still I knew something would come, as she has always been accurate in her prophecies and symbols.

"It must be that as Merle's sickness has unfitted him to do the work I had planned, she is going to take it up, rather than have me disappointed. The mother, sister and brother have all loyal hearts.

Wonderful, isn't it, what surprises and knowledge the investigation of the science of magnetism imparts."

"Indeed it is," replied Dr. Harrington, "and this age is to be congratulated it has such a man as yourself to elucidate it, who has devoted years to experiments, and speaks, therefore, from accurate knowledge. Only a man such as yourself could afford to devote his entire time and attention to investigation and research. Few such would do it, and I wish to express my appreciation of the grand work you are doing for humanity.

"Ministers' and missionaries' work pale into insignificance compared with what you are accomplishing. I am proud to be reckoned among your acquaintances. You have done much for me by your advice and instructions."

"There! There! You know my antipathy for compliments. My motives in working as I have are far more selfish than you give me credit for.

Baxter is late as usual,--probably he has met some 'charming woman' as he always says, and thinks we 'poor men' should be pleased to wait while he converses with her. Every man has some weakness, and Baxter's most glaring one is certainly women.

"Women and science do not work well together I have found. Ah, here he is now. Don't apologize, Baxter. It is altogether unnecessary, as we know you intended to be here promptly as you promised, but some perfectly irresistible creature, clothed in the habiliments of a woman, crossed your path, temporarily erasing the memory of so insignificant an affair as a scientific consultation, from your mind. Beauty and love before science is your motto. Come, own up. You are forgiven; the offense is not such a grievous one, after all."

"I own up to the cause of my absence being a woman, and a most charming one at that, but Huskins, I do dislike to admit my estimable self was not the object of her visit and solicitation and imploration. For once, I have you where you have so often had me 'cornered.' Oh, you are a sly fox! We have never been keen enough to discover the scent you were on, but we know now too well to believe that there is now, or has been no woman in your life. I wouldn't take money for this opportunity to return your banterings (whether in private or public). But your day is over.

We are quits."

"Baxter, you are daft. One would think you had been imbibing too liberally if he did not know you as well as I. What do you mean by implying some woman kept you from an appointment for my sake? Go on.

Tell all you know, for there is not a woman on the earth I would turn my head to look at, so you can't banter me. We have work to do; Merle is ill, and I am anxious to go to him. He is more to me than your charming detainer. Speak out, for you will not be in a condition to work until you have had your say."

"Proud boaster, how little you appreciate the great boon I have in store for you. You do not deserve it. I would give several years of my life to be in your place. Do not look at me that way; I am going to tell you fast as words will let me.

"I was called away from home early this morning. When I came back, before I had a chance to eat, the colored boy came to me saying, 'There is the most beautiful lady I ever saw waiting for you in the reception room.' She wished to see me immediately, but would send up no card nor name. She told him to tell me she would not detain me long. Her own time was limited.

"As you may imagine, his glowing description of her beauty chased away all fatigue and irritation that would naturally result from a man's not having had anything to eat for nearly a day. I literally flew to her presence, that I might relieve her of whatever pain she might be enduring. Pain is so disfiguring that even beauty shows its ravages.

"I was prepared by the boy's account to expect something more than ordinary, but I was not quite prepared to see such a vision of loveliness as confronted me. An angel could not be more beautiful. I know, Huskins, I must have stared when I saw her.

"She approached me eagerly, and asked, 'Do I speak to the celebrated Dr.

Baxter?' I can feel my heart beat now at the remembrance of the sweet music of her voice. I never realized what a beautiful name I had before.

I a.s.sured her I was Dr. Baxter, and the thought came to me irresistibly but joyously, 'What have I ever done, that such an angel of beauty has deigned to come to me for guidance and help?' No words can express the joy that pervaded my whole being at the thought of how wise I was in choosing a physician's career which would make me of service to such beautiful and suffering women. When she reached out that little hand for me to grasp in my big--"

"Enough of your effusions, come to the point. I am in a hurry."

"Huskins, you are a great mesmerist, but you lack a touch of sentimentality. I think with that you would be almost a G.o.d."

"Then you had better let your suppositions rest until you are ruminating by yourself. What connection has the woman with me? Please answer briefly. I am in a hurry."

"You are too hasty, but I will endeavor to tell you in a short way what it took us a long time to talk over. She had come to me to implore you (on my bended knee if necessary) to gain your permission to mesmerize her, and you shall do it if I have to hypnotize you in order to make you."

"You must excuse me for laughing, my dear Baxter, but it is really a capital joke. Is it not, Harrington? Cannot you see the point? She has used me as a catspaw to get into your good graces. You are the objective point, not me, otherwise, she would have come to me immediately. I couldn't count the number who have given me urgent invitations to do the same for them. You see, she was a little embarra.s.sed about asking you to do that for her, but she was hoping you would volunteer, for everyone knows that you are accounted an expert professional mesmerist. I wonder at your denseness of understanding. You are ordinarily very keen and shrewd.

"Harrington and I make no pretensions to gallantry toward the ladies, yet either of us could see through that gauze of deception. Eh, Harrington?"

"You are right, Huskins. I can see no reason for his attacking you in such a manner."

"But you haven't it all. Do not be hasty in your conclusions. She told me she had long been interested in the study of psychology, and the fame of Prof. Huskins had reached her in several places she had visited. She had always thought she would like to study upon the subject, and the only way to do was to be put to sleep herself. She was not willing to experiment with all persons, but would feel perfectly safe to be mesmerized by such an adept in the science as the Professor. She had likewise been informed that, being a rich man, and only practising the power for his own pleasure, it would be extremely difficult to reach him. Some kind person had told her I was an intimate friend of his, and might be able to influence him to see her, and possibly experiment with her, although she felt she would not be easily influenced. Her stay is brief, and she was not accustomed to sue for favors, as she a.s.sured me, but rather to be sued."

"There you are, running off on a tangent again. You may convey to your fair charmer my compliments, and state I am sorry to disappoint her, but just at present, I am too busy to comply with her wishes. If I were to mesmerize all the women who wish me to, I should have no opportunity to benefit science by any valuable experiments. Let us dismiss the subject without further talk."

"But, Huskins, you have not heard her name. She is a very noted woman."

"That makes no difference to me. I have neither time nor patience to exhaust upon her."

"You must see her, because I have promised to bring her to your home, which report declares to be such an example of beauty and refinement."

"Really, Baxter, you are going a little too far. You know I consider my home a place of refuge and enjoyment, where I am free from all intrusion. You and Harrington are always welcome, as I think I have proven to you, but I do not pose as a curiosity or freak to be exhibited at any time to any of your friends or his who happen to want to look at me."

"I shall tell you her name, whether you wish to hear it or not. She is the famous singer, Rosalie Earle. Oh! You are surprised. So was I, Huskins. Think what a rude thing it would be to refuse her the hospitality of your home. I know you think too much of me to place me in so embarra.s.sing a position as to go to her and say 'My friend, Prof.

Huskins, refuses to permit us to enter his house.' Do let her call upon you, even though you do not practice your power for her."

"Pardon my gruffness, Baxter; you may bring the lady by all means. I will make every condition as agreeable as lies in my power. You come too, Harrington;--possibly we can arrange with the siren to sing for us.

I must go now. We will talk over the business we have met here to discuss at my house. Baxter has monopolized the time we were to give to it here. I must go to see Merle, and I know Harrington should look after patients. I will look for you both. Let us hope the amiable and distinguished lady will be satisfied with her visit. Au revoir!"

"How quickly Huskins changed his mind, when he knew who the woman was! I thought I was going to be in a deuce of a fix, he was so obstinate. He is a good fellow. I wish you would come with me to visit a patient. I want your opinion. It is a severe case with conflicting symptoms, and you may be able to suggest something of benefit. Can you go right away?"

"Yes. I will be glad to accommodate you."

CHAPTER FIVE

William went directly from Dr. Harrington's to Merle's home, where he was greeted by Mrs. Millard, who said, "I am so glad you have come, Professor, as Merle does not seem at all well. He is feverish and nervous, and has said every little while, 'I wish the Professor would come.' He will be so glad to see you. You look pale yourself; I hope you are not ill."

"Thank you, Mrs. Millard, I am well, but have just come from a professional conference. I am sorry that Merle is not feeling well. I will soon help him. Shall I go right up to his room?"

"Oh! He would get up and dress. He is in the parlor lying down. Go right in."

"See that no one disturbs us until I speak to you. I shall put him to sleep."

"No one will enter; I will see to that. I hope you will have time to see Alice, too--she also acts strangely. I do not like to intrude upon your time; you have been so good to us,--but mothers are nervous, weak creatures."

"It will be a pleasure to do anything that lies in my power for Alice, after I have restored Merle, and I will see her then. You must never hesitate to ask favors of me, Mrs. Millard. It gives me real pleasure to be of a.s.sistance to you at all times. Now I will look at Merle."

"I am sorry to see you looking so weak and sick, Merle. What do you suppose caused your sudden faintness at the concert? You were apparently well and rested before the singer's entrance. It wasn't a case of love at first sight, was it? We may as well jest as look upon the dark side of the picture."

"You don't know how grieved I was to be the means of depriving you of the pleasure of hearing so exquisite a singer as Miss Earle, knowing, as I do, your love of music. I think the very thought of how disappointed you must have been has helped to make me sick. I would like to be instrumental in bringing you happiness, but my weakness robbed you of a special delight. Really, I tried not to give up, but an irresistible wave of power seemed to pa.s.s over me."

"I understand. Do not think of me at all. My concern for you and your health supplanted every other feeling. Merle, your father is dead, and though I am not old enough in years to fill his place, my love and interest in you are sufficiently strong to warrant me a father's privilege of questioning you as to the cause of this undue illness. You know me well enough to be sure that whatever you may say to me will never be repeated. I would not ask you any questions except in the interest of science, but I want to find out what has caused this condition. You were apparently well and happy until the singer appeared, then you were taken suddenly and seriously sick. Merle, what is she to you?"

"What is she to me? Nothing. I did not even see her."

"Then what made you ill?"

"I do not know."