As David Chapman dropped into a chair at the tea-table, the anxious and sympathetic sister said,
“Brother, you really must take some rest. Indeed you must, David, now that all is over.”
“Yes, Arabella, I feel utterly exhausted and shall rest.”
The man’s condition was pitiable; his words came from his throat with the dry, rasping sound of a file working on hardest steel.
“What a God-send Jack Dunlap is at this time, sister. He has taken charge of everything, and in that steady, confident, masterful way of his has brought order out of the chaos that existed at the mansion. It may be the training and habits acquired at sea, but no matter what it is the transformation in the affairs at the house is wonderful. His decisive manner of directing everything and everybody and the correctness and promptness with which all people and things are disposed of by him is phenomenal. I thank Providence for the relief that Jack’s coming has brought.”
The total exhaustion of Chapman’s intense energy was best exhibited in the satisfaction he felt at having some one to assist him even in the affairs of the Dunlaps.
“Jack is one of the best and strongest minded men in the world. While I know that his heart is bleeding for all, especially for Lucy, he has maintained a self-control that is superb,” said the spinster.
“When he learned that Lucy’s hallucination led her to believe that the old family physician had conspired to deprive her of her baby, he promptly procured the attendance of another doctor, saying positively, ‘Lucy’s mind must not be disturbed by sight of anything or person tending to aggravate her mental disorder.’ He forbade Mrs. Church going into Lucy’s apartments, dismissed the nurse and procured a new one, had that accursed infant put with his nurse into other apartments and did it all so firmly and quietly that no one dreamed of disputing any order given by him,” said David wearily, but evidently much relieved with the changes made by Jack.
“What of Lucy? How is she?” anxiously questioned Arabella.
“Her mental faculties are totally disarranged. She has not spoken coherently since she fell senseless on that dreadful night and was carried to her bed. Besides, her physical condition is precarious in the extreme,” replied the brother.