'What do you think, Doctor? Is she seriously ill?'
'There is nothing, so far as I can make out, organically the matter with her, but the system is running down. She is very thin and weak. I shall prescribe a tonic, but——'
'But what, doctor?'
'She seems to be suffering from extreme depression of spirits. Do you know of any secret grief—any love affair? At her age, anything of that sort fills the entire mind, and the consequences are often grave.'
'And supposing it were so, what would be your advice? Change of air and scene?'
'Certainly.'
'Have you spoken to her on the subject?'
'Yes; but she says she will not leave Ashwood.'
'We cannot send her away by force. What would you advise us to do?'