There was nothing to do now but to carry the war into Africa.
"Because Doctor Copin seems to have that right--or privilege," I gave
her boldly, making a good deal of it by my tone.
"Doctor Copin is very nice indeed to me; indeed, he's nicer than you are
to me, Chet. He tells me things that you won't, and he's helping me to
get my memory back. Why don't you help me?"
"How can I help?" I asked.
"Tell me how I was different yesterday, if I was different. Was I
different toward him?"
"Of course, I don't know how you've been in the habit of treating him
before I came."
"Well, how did he treat _me_, then?"
"Oh, you'd better ask _him_ about that! But," I added, to try her, "I
think he's undoubtedly in love with you."
"And you're not? For shame, Chet!" She looked demurely at me, as if
merely to impugn my taste. "He's not nearly so nice as you, Chet," she
continued, "but he does treat me better. He's done a great deal for me,
and, if I ever do get well, it will be through his advice."
"What does he do? How does he treat you--can you tell me?"
"Why, he hypnotizes me, you know. I told you that before."
"And gives you suggestions, I suppose?"
"I don't know what you mean. I just go to sleep, and after a while I
wake up again. He hasn't been able to do it till quite lately, and I
don't understand it very well, anyway. I don't care, so long as I
recover. He says I'm a remarkably interesting case."
"So you are, Edna, most assuredly," I replied. "You would be, even if
you were all right."
"Thank you for that. I'll put down one good mark to your credit. But
tell me--was I pretty yesterday, Chet?" She looked up at me earnestly
under her brows.
"Very pretty--beautiful!"
"Was I clever, too?"
"Very!"
"More than usual? More pretty and more clever than I am to-day?"
Wishing to see what she was driving at, I risked a chance shot. "Yes,"
I said.
"Oh, I _hate_ you!" she cried, and she got up in a pet and threw herself
out of the room, scowling.
I hurried after to propitiate her, but she was already outdoors. I
overtook her in the lane and tried to take her hand and get her back,
but she flung away from me and walked on without answering me. Giving
up the chase, I returned to the library, very sorry to have aroused her
temper. I knew I should have lied to her for Joy's sake, for the sake
of peace, for the sake of final victory.
I was pretty well convinced, by this time, that Edna's eyes were opened,
and she knew what was going on. She must undoubtedly have been informed
by the doctor the day before. That would account for her behavior at
dinner and in the evening. For the first time in her life, she had
become aware that, during those lapses when she lost days at a time,
some one else lived for her, animating the same body. If, as I was not
too modest to imagine, she cared for me, the reason for her anger was
evident. Edna was now probably definitely pitted against Joy in the
conflict that was doubtless already on. I was determined, therefore, to
bring the thing to a crisis, that we might, at least, know where we
stood.
I had not been alone fifteen minutes when I saw Leah approaching the
house. She was sobbing, her head bent down, her handkerchief to her
eyes. I ran out to meet her, my heart in my mouth.
She stopped and told me, trembling convulsively as she spoke, that while
on the way with a broom to the cabin, intending to make it fit for
temporary occupancy, Edna had met her and questioned her. At Leah's
attempt to conceal the truth, Edna, who was already in an angry mood,
burst into a fury and struck Leah across the face with such force that
her cheek was badly cut, inside, by her teeth. The revolver had dropped
from Leah's pocket; Edna had picked it up, accused Leah of stealing it,
and had gone on down the lane.
"Oh!" Leah cried passionately, "I don't care how much she hurt me--she's
not responsible, I'm sure--but I'm afraid that now she'll send me away
again. Then what will become of Miss Joy? If she'll strike me, she'll
do worse. If we don't do something pretty soon, it will be too late!"
"You must keep out of sight as much as possible for the rest of the
day," I said, "especially as the doctor will probably come down. If we
could only prevent that!" At the words, an idea occurred to me. "What
train does he usually come down on?"
"The ten o'clock from the city. He usually takes luncheon here."
"Then there's just time, perhaps, to catch him. Come up-stairs. I'm
going to try to see if we can't find out something. It's a desperate
chance, but I'll take it. The thing can't be much worse, even if we're
found out."
We went up into the study and I called up the doctor's number. While we
were waiting for it I gave Leah her instructions.
"Don't speak loud, just barely loud enough so that he may hear with
difficulty, and let him do most of the talking. Pitch your voice as
high as you can. Ask him what train he's coming down on. I'll take the
receiver and listen, and tell you what else to say."
In a few minutes the bell rang and we were connected with the doctor's
office. I heard him say, "Hello! Is that you, Miss Fielding?"
"Say 'yes,'" I whispered. Leah did so.
"Anything the matter?" he asked. Leah said "No."
"What did you want, then?" was his next question.
Leah put the question about the train.
"I'm going to take the ten. I'm starting right off. What's the matter
with your voice? It sounds different, and it's so weak anyway, I can
hardly hear it!"