"When did he change like this?" asked Dr. Jim.
"I think it was the day after you left," replied Ida tearfully, "I went to Beorminster to see Flo, and left him quite bright. When I met him again, he was dull, and quiet, and white. Yet Bess was with him while I was away, so he should not have missed me so much."
"Oh!" said Jim with sudden interest, "so Bess was with him, was she? H'm! It strikes me that Bess herself is not so bright as she might be."
"Indeed you are right there," said Miss Endicotte, "she is sad and silent just like Stephen. Or else she is so gay that I think she is too excited. She cries for the least thing, and laughs without any cause."
"Humph! Sounds like hysteria to me. Yet Bess is not given that way."
"Of course not," said Ida repelling the suggestion hastily, "she is a strong, healthy, sensible girl and above such weakness. But as you say she and Stephen have both changed. I think," here Ida hesitated and looked down. It amazed Herrick when she looked up to see that her eyes were filled with tears. He could not understand it all.
"My dear girl what is the matter?" he exclaimed irritably, "are you ill also. The devil has broken loose here since my departure."
"I--I--can't--help it," sobbed Ida, "I thought that Bess and Stephen might--might like one another."
"Of course they do Ida. Why shouldn't they?"
"You don't understand what I mean. I wonder if they were in love with one another and regret their engagements."