I heard all this as through a thick blanket wrapped about my head, but I could n't open my eyes or speak. The woman's voice came at first from a great distance; gradually it grew louder, clearer. "Now we 'll see," she said. She must have let the lamplight fall full on my face, for through my closed and weighted lids I saw red and yellow. I felt her bend over me; her breath was on my cheek. Still I could not speak. "She 's the living image," I heard her say quite distinctly; "I guess I 've had one turn I shan't get over in a hurry." I found myself wondering what she meant and trying to lift my eyelids. She took my hand; I knew she must be looking at the nails. "She 's coming round all right--the blood 's turning in her nails." She took both my hands to rub them. I opened my eyes then, and heard her say: "Eyes different." Then she lifted my head on her arm and fed me the cocoa spoonful by spoonful. "Thank you, I 'm better now," I said; my voice sounded natural to myself, and I made an effort to sit up. "I 'm so sorry I 've made you all this trouble--" "Don't talk about trouble, child; you lay back against those pillows and rest you. I 'll be back in a little while." She left the room. II When she returned, shortly after, I had regained my strength. She found me with my hat on and sitting in the rocking-chair. The woman drew up her own, and began in a matter-of-fact voice: "Now we 'll proceed to business. I 've been thinking like chain lightning ever since that clap of thunder, and I can tell you the storm 's cleared up more 'n the air. I ain't the kind to dodge round much when there 's business on hand. Straight to the point is the best every time; so I may as well tell you that this place,"--she held out the advertisement,--"is made for you and you for the place, even if you ain't quite so strong as you might be." I felt the tension in my face lessen. I was about to speak, but the woman put out her hand, saying: "Now, don't say a word--not yet; let me do the talking; you can have your say afterwards, and I 'll be only too glad to hear it. But it's laid on me like the Lord's hand itself to tell you what I 'm going to. It 'll take long in the telling, but if you go out to this place, you ought to know something why there is such a place to go to, and to explain that, I 've got to begin to tell you what I 'm going to. You 're different from the others, and it's your due to know. I should judge life had n't been all roses for you so far, and if you should have a few later on, there 'll be plenty of thorns--there always is. So just you stand what I 'm going to tell you. This was n't in the bargain when I told Doctor Rugvie I 'd see all the applicants and try to get the right one,--but I can make it all right with him. It's a longer story than I wish 't was, but I 've got to begin at the beginning.