"Never," she replied.
I began musing to myself, when I was interrupted from my train of thought by the voice of the patient calling out, in agonising tones, "Charles! Charles!"
"Edith, my love! what is the matter?" cried Mrs. L——, rising and leaving the room.
"Edith!" I muttered to myself. "How strange! What a strange link between the two cases." I did not know what to make of it all. However, I kept the particulars of Charles' case to myself for the present, and determined to investigate the matter closely.
"Can I see the patient?" I asked of my old friend.
"Certainly; we will go together," he said.
"Thank you, but I should prefer a private interview with her, if possible. Patients sometimes will not be communicative to the doctor in presence of others, even though they be their own relations. It is always my plan to——"
"Ah, exactly, doctor," he replied; "but I am afraid she will not give you a very warm reception."
"Oh," I replied, "as to that, I am accustomed to the very worst of receptions from some of my patients."
My friend led me to the chamber of the young lady, whom I discovered in bed, propped up by cushions, talking to Mrs. L——.