The Misses Crane were afraid she was going to lose her reason.
They went to see the minister and the minister's wife on the subject. They found only the lady at home. And to her they stated the mysterious case.
"There is something very heavy on her mind, my dear. I am sure there is something awful on her mind."
"There has been this long time, I think," said the minister's wife.
"Yes, I know; but it is a thousand times worse now. My dear, she keeps her room nearly all day. She never comes to the table. If I send her meals up to her they come back almost untasted. And I assure you she does not sleep any better than she eats. Her room is over mine, and so I can hear her walking the floor half the night," said Miss Romania Crane.
"What can be the cause of her distress?" inquired the rector's lady.
"I don't know. I can't get her to tell me. She only says that 'her life is wrecked forever, and that she wishes only to be left to herself until death shall relieve her.' And all that sort of talk," said Miss Romania.
"And have you no suspicion?"
"None in the world that seems at all rational. The only one I have seems foolish."
"But what is it?"