"I've tried everything," he told Merlin. "I've gone to psychologists, read books, even tried Yoga. Nothing helps."
"Naturally," Merlin said. "I'll tell you why: Everyone is a mixture of traits handed down from his ancestors. Somewhere in every man's ancestry is a brave person. Even if that bravery is hidden, it's still there, and it can be brought out."
"What happened to me?" Wilbur wanted to know.
"You got cheated," Merlin said as though he were immensely pleased. "You got only half the traits, and they were the cowardly ones. That's why you couldn't be cured. There was no bravery in you to be brought out."
"Oh," Wilbur gulped. "I guess I'd better be going." He started to rise.
"Sit down," Merlin said. Wilbur plunked back into the sofa. He watched Merlin walk to the stand and lift the glass ball. The old man peered into the ball and its color changed to rose, then purple. Something was going on inside it but Wilbur couldn't see what.
"Who's this fellow Pete Bellows?" Merlin wanted to know.
Wilbur was astonished. He hadn't mentioned Pete's name. When he told the old man who Pete was Merlin chuckled.
"Thinks he's quite a man with the ladies, doesn't he? I'll fix him."
Merlin made a pass over the glass ball and muttered a few words which Wilbur didn't catch. There was a sudden thump, clearly audible to Wilbur, and Merlin chuckled gleefully.