Punctual to his appointment, William was ushered into the private office
of Dr. Harrington, which was a small, gloomy room barren of all beauty;
a fitting symbol of the uses for which it was designed, as its interior
was only known to those who were drawn there by sickness, anxiety or
discouragement. With thoughts dark and grewsome, they sought this place
in the hope of obtaining benefit or relief. Like being eternally
attracted to like, such persons would be out of place where brightness
or beauty or the fragrance of flowers or other cheerful conditions
exist, for such things harmonize only with health and happiness, not
with sickness and despair.
The doctor greeted William cordially, and with that punctilio that a man
offers to one whom he recognizes as his superior. After a few common and
casual remarks about the weather and kindred topics, the doctor remarked
that William did not look as well as usual, and expressed the hope that
he had not allowed a student's anxiety to acquire wisdom (followed by a
rebuff) to cause him uneasiness.
"Not at all," replied William, "I have really thought very little about
the experiment since I left you. Merle has been very ill, and I
remained with him most of the night. I feel grieved he should be
stricken just at this time, which is most inopportune, as I calculated
to use him every day for a while, that I might finish the book I am
working on. I depend upon his co-operation for much of the information I
am putting into it, as I am compiling a series of personal experiences
with him. Very likely I have used him a little too much, although I have
tried to be cautious. As matters stand I think I shall be compelled to
drop that work for a time, and give him a good rest.
"I have been, as I told you before, developing his sister, for the
purpose of determining the spiritual qualities and possibilities of man;
I have no faith in the dogmas of theology, but still I do not feel that
I can avow agnosticism or materialism.
"I took this girl when she was very young, and have developed her with
the greatest care I have ever used upon any subject, allowing her mind
to be biased by no teachings of faith of any kind, thus leaving her
entirely unprejudiced.
"She lives a very secluded life, seeing only her mother, Merle and
myself, is ignorant of the world, and is the best instrument that could
be found to give clear and unprejudiced answers to the questions that I
want answered.
"I shall employ an assistant who will come in after she has been put to
sleep, and take down every word she utters, so the public (for I intend
to publish her answers and my questions) will not be compelled to accept
my unsupported statements. In that case, many would think that I had
changed or modified her answers to suit my own ideas.
"So far, although I have mesmerized her often for many years, I have
refrained from questioning her while entranced, permitting her to talk
or not as she felt inclined.--That reminds me of a symbol she gave me
the last time she was in the trance. She was silent a long time, then
she became suddenly very restless, and began to beat something away with
her hands. I felt her heart beating very rapidly, and said, 'What is it,
Alice? Can I help you? Do you wish to waken?' She answered, 'Yes. I
cannot help you now, but I will by and by, for you have been so good to
mother and Merle and me. We do not want you to suffer. I can go through
it when it comes, but Merle cannot, for I see him failing, while I have
a desire to go into it.'
"'Go into what?' I said. She answered, 'That awful, black cloud that
envelops you so I can scarcely see you. I will find you and bring you
out.' I saw she was becoming so agitated I brought her back rather than
see her suffer, especially on my account. She, of course, had no
remembrance upon awaking of anything that had transpired in the trance,
still I knew something would come, as she has always been accurate in
her prophecies and symbols.
"It must be that as Merle's sickness has unfitted him to do the work I
had planned, she is going to take it up, rather than have me
disappointed. The mother, sister and brother have all loyal hearts.
Wonderful, isn't it, what surprises and knowledge the investigation of
the science of magnetism imparts."
"Indeed it is," replied Dr. Harrington, "and this age is to be
congratulated it has such a man as yourself to elucidate it, who has
devoted years to experiments, and speaks, therefore, from accurate
knowledge. Only a man such as yourself could afford to devote his entire
time and attention to investigation and research. Few such would do it,
and I wish to express my appreciation of the grand work you are doing
for humanity.
"Ministers' and missionaries' work pale into insignificance compared
with what you are accomplishing. I am proud to be reckoned among your
acquaintances. You have done much for me by your advice and
instructions."
"There! There! You know my antipathy for compliments. My motives in
working as I have are far more selfish than you give me credit for.
Baxter is late as usual,--probably he has met some 'charming woman' as
he always says, and thinks we 'poor men' should be pleased to wait while
he converses with her. Every man has some weakness, and Baxter's most
glaring one is certainly women.
"Women and science do not work well together I have found. Ah, here he
is now. Don't apologize, Baxter. It is altogether unnecessary, as we
know you intended to be here promptly as you promised, but some
perfectly irresistible creature, clothed in the habiliments of a woman,
crossed your path, temporarily erasing the memory of so insignificant an
affair as a scientific consultation, from your mind. Beauty and love
before science is your motto. Come, own up. You are forgiven; the
offense is not such a grievous one, after all."
"I own up to the cause of my absence being a woman, and a most charming
one at that, but Huskins, I do dislike to admit my estimable self was
not the object of her visit and solicitation and imploration. For once,
I have you where you have so often had me 'cornered.' Oh, you are a sly
fox! We have never been keen enough to discover the scent you were on,
but we know now too well to believe that there is now, or has been no
woman in your life. I wouldn't take money for this opportunity to return
your banterings (whether in private or public). But your day is over.
We are quits."
"Baxter, you are daft. One would think you had been imbibing too
liberally if he did not know you as well as I. What do you mean by
implying some woman kept you from an appointment for my sake? Go on.
Tell all you know, for there is not a woman on the earth I would turn my
head to look at, so you can't banter me. We have work to do; Merle is
ill, and I am anxious to go to him. He is more to me than your charming
detainer. Speak out, for you will not be in a condition to work until
you have had your say."
"Proud boaster, how little you appreciate the great boon I have in store
for you. You do not deserve it. I would give several years of my life to
be in your place. Do not look at me that way; I am going to tell you
fast as words will let me.
"I was called away from home early this morning. When I came back,
before I had a chance to eat, the colored boy came to me saying, 'There
is the most beautiful lady I ever saw waiting for you in the reception
room.' She wished to see me immediately, but would send up no card nor
name. She told him to tell me she would not detain me long. Her own time
was limited.
"As you may imagine, his glowing description of her beauty chased away
all fatigue and irritation that would naturally result from a man's not
having had anything to eat for nearly a day. I literally flew to her
presence, that I might relieve her of whatever pain she might be
enduring. Pain is so disfiguring that even beauty shows its ravages.
"I was prepared by the boy's account to expect something more than
ordinary, but I was not quite prepared to see such a vision of
loveliness as confronted me. An angel could not be more beautiful. I
know, Huskins, I must have stared when I saw her.
"She approached me eagerly, and asked, 'Do I speak to the celebrated Dr.
Baxter?' I can feel my heart beat now at the remembrance of the sweet
music of her voice. I never realized what a beautiful name I had before.
I assured her I was Dr. Baxter, and the thought came to me irresistibly
but joyously, 'What have I ever done, that such an angel of beauty has
deigned to come to me for guidance and help?' No words can express the
joy that pervaded my whole being at the thought of how wise I was in
choosing a physician's career which would make me of service to such
beautiful and suffering women. When she reached out that little hand for
me to grasp in my big--"
"Enough of your effusions, come to the point. I am in a hurry."
"Huskins, you are a great mesmerist, but you lack a touch of
sentimentality. I think with that you would be almost a god."
"Then you had better let your suppositions rest until you are ruminating
by yourself. What connection has the woman with me? Please answer
briefly. I am in a hurry."
"You are too hasty, but I will endeavor to tell you in a short way what
it took us a long time to talk over. She had come to me to implore you
(on my bended knee if necessary) to gain your permission to mesmerize
her, and you shall do it if I have to hypnotize you in order to make
you."
"You must excuse me for laughing, my dear Baxter, but it is really a
capital joke. Is it not, Harrington? Cannot you see the point? She has
used me as a catspaw to get into your good graces. You are the objective
point, not me, otherwise, she would have come to me immediately. I
couldn't count the number who have given me urgent invitations to do the
same for them. You see, she was a little embarrassed about asking you to
do that for her, but she was hoping you would volunteer, for everyone
knows that you are accounted an expert professional mesmerist. I wonder
at your denseness of understanding. You are ordinarily very keen and
shrewd.
"Harrington and I make no pretensions to gallantry toward the ladies,
yet either of us could see through that gauze of deception. Eh,
Harrington?"
"You are right, Huskins. I can see no reason for his attacking you in
such a manner."
"But you haven't it all. Do not be hasty in your conclusions. She told
me she had long been interested in the study of psychology, and the fame
of Prof. Huskins had reached her in several places she had visited. She
had always thought she would like to study upon the subject, and the
only way to do was to be put to sleep herself. She was not willing to
experiment with all persons, but would feel perfectly safe to be
mesmerized by such an adept in the science as the Professor. She had
likewise been informed that, being a rich man, and only practising the
power for his own pleasure, it would be extremely difficult to reach
him. Some kind person had told her I was an intimate friend of his, and
might be able to influence him to see her, and possibly experiment with
her, although she felt she would not be easily influenced. Her stay is
brief, and she was not accustomed to sue for favors, as she assured me,
but rather to be sued."
"There you are, running off on a tangent again. You may convey to your
fair charmer my compliments, and state I am sorry to disappoint her, but
just at present, I am too busy to comply with her wishes. If I were to
mesmerize all the women who wish me to, I should have no opportunity to
benefit science by any valuable experiments. Let us dismiss the subject
without further talk."
"But, Huskins, you have not heard her name. She is a very noted woman."
"That makes no difference to me. I have neither time nor patience to
exhaust upon her."
"You must see her, because I have promised to bring her to your home,
which report declares to be such an example of beauty and refinement."
"Really, Baxter, you are going a little too far. You know I consider my
home a place of refuge and enjoyment, where I am free from all
intrusion. You and Harrington are always welcome, as I think I have
proven to you, but I do not pose as a curiosity or freak to be exhibited
at any time to any of your friends or his who happen to want to look at
me."
"I shall tell you her name, whether you wish to hear it or not. She is
the famous singer, Rosalie Earle. Oh! You are surprised. So was I,
Huskins. Think what a rude thing it would be to refuse her the
hospitality of your home. I know you think too much of me to place me in
so embarrassing a position as to go to her and say 'My friend, Prof.
Huskins, refuses to permit us to enter his house.' Do let her call upon
you, even though you do not practice your power for her."
"Pardon my gruffness, Baxter; you may bring the lady by all means. I
will make every condition as agreeable as lies in my power. You come
too, Harrington;--possibly we can arrange with the siren to sing for us.
I must go now. We will talk over the business we have met here to
discuss at my house. Baxter has monopolized the time we were to give to
it here. I must go to see Merle, and I know Harrington should look after
patients. I will look for you both. Let us hope the amiable and
distinguished lady will be satisfied with her visit. Au revoir!"
"How quickly Huskins changed his mind, when he knew who the woman was! I
thought I was going to be in a deuce of a fix, he was so obstinate. He
is a good fellow. I wish you would come with me to visit a patient. I
want your opinion. It is a severe case with conflicting symptoms, and
you may be able to suggest something of benefit. Can you go right away?"
"Yes. I will be glad to accommodate you."