One glance at the beautiful bride, and an expression of the gravest apprehension swept over the doctor's face.
"My dear sir," he said, turning to Varrick, "I have something to tell you which you must summon all your fortitude to hear. Your young wife has lost her reason; she is dangerously insane."
Varrick started back as though the man had struck him a sudden blow.
"You are bound for Montreal, I believe," continued the doctor. "You will see the need of conveying her to an asylum, with the least possible delay, as soon as you arrive there. If there is anything which I can do to assist you during this journey, do not hesitate to call upon me. Consider me entirely at your service."
That was a day in Hubert Varrick's life that he never looked back to without shuddering. How he passed the long hours he never knew. Gerelda grew steadily more violent, and twice Varrick's life would have paid the forfeit had it not been for his watchfulness.
With great difficulty he succeeded, with the doctor's assistance, in making the change from the train to the boat.
That was how his wedding journey began.
As night came on, the doctor touched him again on the arm.
"You have not left your young bride's side for an instant during all these long hours," he said. "You are wearing yourself out. Let me beg of you to go out on deck and take a few turns up and down; the cool air will revive you. Nay, you must not refuse; I insist upon it, or I shall have you for a patient before your journey is ended."
To this proposition, after some little coaxing, Varrick consented.