“Alice, dear, can it be this lonely, isolated life that is ruining your health and nerves? Shall I give up my commission and go back East?�
“Oh, no, Mark! It is pleasant here—only—� And Alice again looked apprehensively behind her.
“My poor child, we will go East,—anywhere,—to get you away from these scenes and influences,� he murmured.
“But, Mark, do you not think they are everywhere? In the East and West and North and South? The air is full of them, it seems to me. What used to seem only thin, pure, fresh air, sweet to breathe, and space vast and limitless, appears now a thickly populated ether or chaos in which are countless thousands of spirits floating or coming and going in surging, whirling, maddening confusion. Oh, you cannot see with my eyes! If you could you would pity me!� Alice leaned against her husband’s arm and her tears fell softly. “You wouldn’t scold me if you knew.�
“Poor child, poor child! I will not scold you nor laugh at you. I will cure you. I know disordered nerves are as bad as other functional disorders, or worse, and it is a physician you need, and a big dose of rest, and you shall have them. You shall not be left alone again, either. You are not afraid when I am here?�
“No, you seem to exercise control even over the inhabitants of the air.�
“I thank God I am able to. Did you know, Alice, Nathan’s little Lucy is ill?�
“Little Lucy? Ah, how sorry I am. How did you learn it?�
“I met Nathan down the road and came home with him.�
“Mark, dear, how I am neglecting you. I am sure you are tired and hungry, and here I have been taking your time with my woes, and forgetting your needs. Supper is all ready, however, except making the tea.�