“But, Mrs. Wells, when so much is at stake, when everything is at stake, can't you take an open-minded attitude toward these mysteries? Why not submit to the indicated conditions and see what happens? If there is only one chance in a hundred that your mother can really come to you and help you, why not take that chance? You believe that your mother is an exalted spirit, don't you?”
“Oh, yes. I am sure she is.”
“You don't doubt that she would be glad to help you in your present trouble, if she could, do you?”
“No, of course not, but what can I do? I say my prayers, I try to have good thoughts—what else can I do?”
The spiritual healer answered with sudden impressiveness.
“Penelope, you must cleanse your soul of evil. There is something you are keeping back—perhaps you do not know what it is yourself. I can only tell you to think, to look into the past, to search into your soul—just as if you were coming before a great, wise, loving Judge who cannot be deceived. He wants you to confess something—I don't know what it is, you must find that out for yourself—but when you have confessed, I know that help will come to you through your mother. Now close your eyes. Don't speak. Think! Think of your mother.”
He laid his hands gently on her forehead and for some minutes there was silence.
“Now I shall leave you alone. In an hour I will send Seraphine to you.”
Then he left her.
At four o'clock Mrs. Walters came in with an armful of flowers from Christopher and the two women talked of indifferent things over their tea. Then they went for a drive in the park and Penelope returned blooming like a lovely rose; but not one word did she breathe of her deeper thoughts. Seraphine waited.