"And you're sentimental over her still?"
"I didn't say that I was sentimental over her at any time."
"I don't care what you said. I can tell by your voice that she is a lost, sweet dream. What do you want me to do?"
"Yes, you do. You want me to see her and find out what she's doing here. It is Kate to the rescue! I will go to-morrow."
"You are too precipitate! You might wait and get my mind."
"I have your mind already, and I believe in doing things vigorously. Besides, you've roused my curiosity. After all these years of waiting to see you get interested in something besides your 'bugs'!—I'm delighted to know you're human, and that there is one woman in the world who can make you moan. You are hit—don't deny it! You've been brooding on that girl all this time. I've known you were hit, but I thought I would wait till you cared to speak. I'm crazy to see her. I shall act at once."
"It's too much to ask of you, but I hope you will consider me to the extent—"
"If your theory is correct that girl ought to be snatched away before the mob of occultists, freaks, and flatterers of this city utterly spoil her. Anyhow, I'm going to look into her case on my own account." And in this determination she snuggled into the corner of the carriage and became silent.
Serviss found that sharing his experience with his sister had enormously increased the weight and importance of his doubt. Viola and her singular beleaguerment had suddenly grown to be a vital problem—something to be immediately seized upon, and he casually added: "It is only fair to say that the Lamberts are above the need of taking money for any display of 'psychic force.'"