With the coming of Tibby the stony stare of Elinor’s eyes was washed away by blessed tears, and with her head upon Tibby’s breast she wept long and silently, while Tibby soothed her with whispered words. Then after a time the sobs became less frequent, and to the relief of all, Elinor slept.
“Thank God for this! and thank you, Tibby, also!� Mark ejaculated. “I feared her mind would give away to the shock. But this sleep will restore her. What a blessing is sleep. This world would be a mad-house of maniacs without it.�
“Yes, Mr. Cramer; but may I not now know what this all means?�
Mark handed Tibby the document which had wrought the ruin. She read it through with corrugated brow, and then sat thoughtfully with it in her hand.
“Can you understand the cause for this, Tibby?�
She shook her head.
“No, unless—I do not know, but there was a woman on the boat with us when we went to Santa Barbara, whom Mr. Wylie seemed to admire and who appeared completely infatuated with him. So much so as to cause remark. I did not tell Mrs. Wylie, but I overheard people talking of her. She was in some way one of his kind, that is, she believed in spiritism and he seemed to enjoy her society.
“Mrs. Wylie did not like her because she had been at the hotel in the mountains when we were there, and the ladies had been somewhat scandalized by her behavior. But of course it seems incredible that she should have been able to cause trouble. I should not think of her, only at the time I felt such an instinctive dislike for her, and fear, as if she was dangerous.� Tibby spoke with evident reluctance. “I am afraid I tried to punish her sometimes.�
“Punish her? How?�
“O, I made her upset her coffee, spill her soup, and do other awkward things. I am glad now that I did them; that is, if she is to blame—for this.�