"
The evening advanced, and brought with it no change for the
better. Lady Janet, by the advice of Horace, sent for her own
medical adviser.
The doctor shook his head. The symptoms, he said, indicated a
serious shock to the nervous system. He wrote a sedative
prescription; and he gave (with a happy choice of language) some
sound and safe advice. It amounted briefly to this: "Take her
away, and try the sea-side." Lady Janet's customary energy acted
on the advice, without a moment's needless delay. She gave the
necessary directions for packing the trunks overnight, and
decided on leaving Mablethorpe Hous e with Mercy the next
morning.
Shortly after the doctor had taken his departure a letter from
Julian, addressed to Lady Janet, was delivered by private
messenger.
Beginning with the necessary apologies for the writer's absence,
the letter proceeded in these terms:
"Before I permitted my companion to see the lawyer, I felt the
necessity of consulting him as to my present position toward her
first.
"I told him--what I think it only right to repeat to you--that I
do not feel justified in acting on my own opinion that her mind
is deranged.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183