"An assistant treasurer is wanted for the New York office; how would you like that?"
"Well, Mr. Jarney, this comes as a greater surprise than when you gave me this position; but, however, I shall accept, if it is the wish of my superiors."
"They want a man immediately for the place; but—I do not want to see you go away yet, though I want to see you get the place. You are capable, and deserving of it."
"I would rather remain here; but if I am to go higher, I suppose I should go at once to wherever I am to go."
"Another thing, Mr. Winthrope; you should not go while my daughter continues ill. Or—or—No, you shall remain here till she recovers. Some one else can fill the place till that time comes. It may seem strange for me to say so, her recovery may depend upon you remaining. It is only an hallucination of her mind, I know; but if her seeing you will do any good, I shall not forget it."
"Do you believe it is an hallucination?" asked John.
"Can be nothing else," he replied, gravely and reflectively. "You were the last one whom she saw and talked with while in her rational mind. The doctors say this is invariably true in all such cases—the impression of that person is indelibly left on the mind of the one afflicted, and remains there till recovery."
"But Miss Barton was there also," returned John, in disputation of his theory.
"That is true; but Miss Barton is with her all the time," he replied, as an argumentative fact.
"It may be," said John, in a deeper quandary than ever. "Then I am to remain here?"