"Miss Wesden is here."
"You fetched her hither, Maurice tells me," he answered. "You are not a jealous woman, Mattie."
"Have I a right to be jealous yet, before my mind is made up?" she answered, lightly.
"The month draws on apace—I am looking forward to the future."
"Time," said Doctor Bario, and Mattie withdrew, after a silent pressure of hands, given and returned. Mattie went towards the doctor instead of the door.
"These interviews must tend to excite him—his pulse is less regular than it was, sir."
"I am sorry for it," said Bario, coolly, "but he will have his way—he is one man impetuous in that. He thinks it is better, in case of anything!"
Mattie backed from him in horror; did Sid fear the result of the experiment himself now? Harriet was waiting anxiously for her return.
"Be careful," whispered Mattie, as she passed in, and Mattie followed her with her wistful eyes. They were a long while together, she thought; longer than was necessary, or Doctor Bario should have allowed. What had Harriet Wesden to say to him?—what would she say in moments like those?
The curtain was drawn back, and Harriet, with flushed cheeks, and tearful eyes, came rapidly towards Mattie.