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lapse of some minutes。 Her hands began to move slowly； as if she was
groping in the dark。 Words dropped one by one from her lips； in a lost；
vacant tone； as if she was talking in her sleep。 Whether what she said
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referred to past or future I cannot tell you。 She spoke of persons in a
foreign countryperfect strangers to my sister and to me。 After a little
interval； she suddenly became silent。 A momentary color appeared in her
face； and left it again。 Her eyes closedher feet failed herand she sank
insensible into our arms。〃
〃Sank insensible into your arms；〃 repeated the captain； absorbing his
new information。 〃Most extraordinary！ Andin this state of healthshe
goes out to parties； and dances。 More extraordinary still！〃
〃You are entirely mistaken；〃 said Mrs。 Crayford。 〃She is only here to…
night to please me； and she is only dancing to please my husband。 As a
rule； she shuns all society。 The doctor recommends change and amusement
for her。 She won't listen to him。 Except on rare occasions like this； she
persists in remaining at home。〃
Captain Helding brightened at the allusion to the doctor。 Something
practical might be got out of the doctor。 Scientific man。 Sure to see this
very obscure subject under a new light。 〃How does it strike the doctor
now？〃 said the captain。 〃Viewed simply as a Case； ma'am； how does it
strike the doctor？〃
〃He will give no positive opinion；〃 Mrs。 Crayford answered。 〃He told
me that such cases as Clara's were by no means unfamiliar to medical
practice。 'We know；' he told me； 'that certain disordered conditions of the
brain and the nervous system produce results quite as extraordinary as any
that you have describedand there our knowledge ends。 Neither my
science nor any man's science can clear up the mystery in this case。 It is an
especially difficult case to deal with； because Miss Burnham's early
associations dispose her to attach a superstitious importance to the
maladythe hysterical malady as some doctors would call itfrom which
she suffers。 I can give you instructions for preserving her general health；
and I can recommend you to try some change in her lifeprovided you
first relieve her mind of any secret anxieties that may possibly be preying
on it。'〃
The captain smiled self…approvingly。 The doctor had justified his
anticipations。 The doctor had suggested a practical solution of the
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difficulty。
〃Ay！ ay！ At last we have hit the nail on the h ead！ Secret anxieties。 Yes！
yes！ Plain enough now。 A disappointment in loveeh； Mrs。 Crayford？〃
〃I don't know； Captain Helding； I am quite in the dark。 Clara's
confidence in mein other matters unboundedis； in this matter of her
（supposed） anxieties； a confidence still withheld。 In all else we are like
sisters。 I sometimes fear there may indeed be some trouble preying
secretly on her mind。 I sometimes feel a little hurt at her incomprehensible
silence。〃
Captain Helding was ready with his own practical remedy for this
difficulty。
〃Encouragement is all she wants； ma'am。 Take my word for it； this
matter rests entirely with you。 It's all in a nutshell。 Encourage her to
confide in youand she _will_ confide。〃
〃I am waiting to encourage her； captain； until she is left alone with me…
…after you have all sailed for the Arctic seas。 In the meantime； will you
consider what I have said to you as intended for your ear only？ And will
you forgive me； if I own that the turn the subject has taken does not tempt
me to pursue it any further？〃
The captain took the hint。 He instantly changed the subject； choosing；
on this occasion； safe professional topics。 He spoke of ships that were
ordered on foreign service； and； finding that these as subjects failed to
interest Mrs。 Crayford； he spoke next of ships that were ordered home
again。 This last experiment produced its effectan effect which the captain
had not bargained for。
〃Do you know；〃 he began； 〃that the _Atalanta_ is expected back from
the West Coast of Africa every day？ Have you any acquaintances among
the officers of that ship？〃
As it so happened； he put those questions to Mrs。 Crayford while they
were engaged in one of the figures of the dance which brought them
within hearing of the opposite couple。 At the same momentto the
astonishment of her friends and admirersMiss Clara Burnham threw the
quadrille into confusion by making a mistake！ Everybody waited to see
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her set the mistake right。 She made no attempt to set it rightshe turned
deadly pale and caught her partner by the arm。
〃The heat！〃 she said； faintly。 〃Take me awaytake me into the air！〃
Lieutenant Crayford instantly led her out of the dance； and took her
into the cool and empty conservatory； at the end of the room。 As a matter
of course； Captain Helding and Mrs。 Crayford left the quadrille at the
same time。 The captain saw his way to a joke。
〃Is this the trance coming on？〃 he whispered。 〃If it is； as commander
of the Arctic expedition； I have a particular request to make。 Will the
Second Sight oblige me by seeing the shortest way to the Northwest
Passage； before we leave England？〃
Mrs。 Crayford declined to humor the joke。 〃If you will excuse my
leaving you；〃 she said quietly； 〃I will try and find out what is the matter
with Miss Burnham。〃
At the entrance to the conservatory； Mrs。 Crayford encountered her
husband。 The lieutenant was of middle age； tall and comely。 A man with a
winning simplicity and gentleness in his manner； and an irresistible
kindness in his brave blue eyes。 In one word； a man whom everybody
lovedincluding his wife。