When William had dressed, and entered his library to attend to the
writing which the day's excitement had caused him to neglect, not even
the most careful observer of human nature could have discovered signs of
a disturbed mind in either his face or his bearing. He seated himself,
and immediately began to critically examine the papers which awaited his
attention, and before the bell announcing the arrival of his guests
rang, he had done quite an amount of work.
He arose at once, and went to the reception hall to greet them. There
was not the least perceptible tremor in his voice when he bade them
welcome, and acknowledged the introduction to the lady who came with Dr.
Baxter.
After the usual salutations were over, he invited them into the
adjoining room, and Dr. Baxter said,--
"You see we were right on time, Huskins. One of my pet foibles, you
know, is punctuality. Miss Earle, unlike most of her sex, was promptness
itself, waiting for me, instead of keeping me waiting for her.
Harrington sent his regards, as he was unable to join us. He was
suddenly called from town, to be gone several days. I hope I will not
prove 'de trop' at this interview; if so, however, consider me yours to
direct. I will go into another room, and remain until you have finished.
Miss Earle, you look very pale, and you are trembling violently. You are
nervous. There is no occasion for fearing Huskins; he is a royal good
fellow. Most women are nervous toward him. Eh, Huskins?"
Miss Earle spoke up quickly. Her voice was calm, though she trembled
visibly. "I have no fear of Prof. Huskins. Far from it; but I am
troubled considerably with this most distressing form of nervousness. I
shall soon recover."
"You work harder than you should, perhaps. It is no uncommon thing for
women, and sometimes men, to be seized with a sort of vertigo when they
first meet Huskins. They seem to feel that he has some mysterious power;
their doubts and fears temporarily control them. You will feel more at
ease after you have talked with him a while. His power is just the thing
to remove your nervousness. It was wisdom upon your part that prompted
you to come to him to be mesmerized. Medicine could not do what he can
for you. Would you feel freer to talk if I were to leave the room?"
"You will please me best by remaining here. Both of you gentlemen have
doubtless heard, and probably believe, that women are but living types
of contradiction and inconsistency. I shall be to you but another proof
of the adage. Yesterday, I had but one absorbing thought--to be
mesmerized; and I naturally desired to be taken to the most renowned
exponent and operator. My exorbitant wish granted, my enthusiasm,
strange to state, entirely vanished. I am very sorry that any whim of
mine has discommoded you whose time is so valuable."
"Not at all, Miss Earle, it has afforded me great pleasure to be of
service to you, and Huskins has any quantity of time at his disposal. He
only works when he feels like it. I am sure your enthusiasm only failed
you because you are uncertain of the sensation accompanying the trance
condition. It is not unpleasant. I know that you would be a good
'subject' and could be put to sleep easily. Am I not right, Huskins?"
"Miss Earle has a temperament very susceptible to magnetic influence,
and would experience no unpleasant sensations while passing to sleep. I
am sure I could remove the nervous disorder."
"I appreciate your kindly interest in me, gentlemen, but all my desire
for personal experience with magnetic sleep has gone, never to return: I
feel now. It may seem strange to you,--I came to you, to two strangers,
for such an experiment, without bringing with me an attendant, or
obtaining your services through the intervention of mutual
acquaintances. The reason for my singular action was, I wanted no one
to know about it. Your reputations were both such I knew you to be
gentlemen. Really, I did not pause to think how it would look. It seemed
to me as though I was going to a physician. It is quite proper to go
there unattended."
"Such an apology is unnecessary. Do not allow such a trifling obstacle
to interfere with the accomplishment of your wish, for Huskins'
housekeeper is a venerable and estimable woman. She often assists him.
She is a woman you would trust as a mother. You may never have such an
opportunity again, for I had considerable work to gain the Professor's
consent to mesmerize you. I imagine, however, your remarkable singing
last night had more to do with it, after all, than any persuasion on my
part. Who could refuse anything to the possessor of so matchless a
voice?"
"Allow me to express the admiration I felt at the rendering of the first
number you sang--doubtless all were equally good. Unfortunately for me,
one of my subjects who went with me was taken violently ill, and we were
compelled to leave. He is a friend of yours, he tells me."
"You flatter me by your encomiums. I am pleased you enjoyed the song.
You say the gentleman who was with you was a friend of mine. May I ask
his name?"
"Merle Millard."
"Merle Millard? That is a strange name to me. I have no recollection of
ever having met him. No person who works in public can hope to remember
all the estimable people whom they meet. I hope he has recovered from
his indisposition."
"I am sorry to say he has not. It is strange you do not recall him at
all. He told me today he once knew you intimately."
"I have had few intimate acquaintances in my life. I have no
recollection of ever having heard that name before. I may have met him
at some reception, and forgotten him; more than that, I do not know him.
I hope he will have a speedy recovery. I will not intrude longer on your
time."
"Can we say nothing to induce you to carry out your original intention?"
"No, Dr. Baxter; I thank you sincerely and earnestly for your kindness
and courtesy."
"They are ever at your disposal. Would it be overstepping the bounds of
politeness to ask you to sing just one song? The Professor is quite a
musician, himself, and has a piano in perfect order; for I know he is so
susceptible to discords. I have never had the pleasure of hearing you
sing. Granting my wish, I shall always regard this day in my memory as
one of the most fortunate in my life. I know the Professor will gladly
accompany you on the piano."
"You have been too kind for me to refuse. I owe you both some return for
the patience you have shown my varying moods. I will not trouble the
Professor to play for me, as I am used to playing my own accompaniments.
I will sing you a song from memory, if that will be your pleasure."
"We will adjourn at once to the music room. The Professor is not a
married man, but he keeps an establishment of as many rooms as though he
had a large family. He is a lucky man:--rich, happy, powerful and
talented. How he has managed to escape designing mothers and beautiful
daughters, is a continual problem to his friends."
"Science is a jealous mistress, and is at present the wife of my choice;
the presiding mistress of the house. I hope, Miss Earle, you will find
the instrument in fairly good tune. Had I known I was to be so highly
honored, I should have had it especially tuned for you, but I know that
you are too gracious not to make allowances for any defects that may be
found."
* * * * *
"What an exquisite voice! Words fail to express my gratitude for this
feast of music; I shall never forget it. Permit me to offer you these
flowers which have been placed beneath Huskins' picture. Such music is
only fitly rewarded by flowers."
"It is a beautiful bouquet. I appreciate your compliment and kindness.
These waxy, white tuberoses are very rare at this season of the year.
They are beautiful flowers, but their odor affects me unpleasantly.
Singers, you know, are very sensitive to the fragrance of flowers. May I
ask the Professor if he will kindly send them to the sick gentleman,
with my compliments and best wishes? Flowers bring such a cheerful
influence to the sick room. Permit me to thank you for your hospitality,
Professor, and to apologize for my unseemly intrusion. Believe me, I
truly appreciate all your kindness."
"It affords me great pleasure if I have been of any service to you, Miss
Earle; may success attend you always. I will call at your office
sometime tomorrow, Baxter. Au revoir."
After watching his guests depart, William strode quickly back to the
music room. Any person seeing him would have known that some strong
emotion was raging in his soul. His eyes flashed with that brightness
that only shows itself under stress of strong feeling, and he walked
straight to the bouquet which Miss Earle had left upon the table, near
where she had stood. He took it up, and throwing it upon the floor,
crushed the sweet flowers under his feet until all their beauty was
gone, but the whole room was filled with their fragrance.
"She dared ask me to carry these to her old love. She dared ask me! Me!
Is she not satisfied with past torture, and must she add present insult
to it? I carry flowers from her to another man? Why did I not crush them
here before her? She does not like their odor--they affect her
unpleasantly. She has changed her mind since I can remember. Once they
affected her differently. She was nervous and trembling like a child.
What sent her here? She shall not defy or humiliate me in the future.
She is a rarely organized sensitive. I am an expert mesmerist. I will
her to come and beg me to mesmerize her. First, I will refuse, then,
when I am ready, I will influence her. She shall see, think and act just
as I will her. I will put every particle of force in my soul into the
work. I will make her my obedient slave. Ask me to carry flowers to your
old lover! You dared to look me calmly in the eye, and to say without a
quiver, 'Carry them, with my compliments and best wishes to the sick
man.' My flowers, I was to carry to him. Think of it! My flowers with
her compliments. If there is any power in magnetism, and I have proven
its efficacy, I will crush out of your heart the pride that prompted
that insult, as thoroughly as I have the beauty of these flowers.
"Not one throb of pity for you. You are weaving a net for Baxter, too,
probably. Make the most of your time, for I solemnly swear I will make
you suffer just as much as you have made me. I have made a success of
every work I have ever undertaken, and I will make one of this. These
flowers make me feel faint and dizzy. I will go and walk and get the
air. Her presence has polluted the very atmosphere of the whole house."