“Now, young marse, I’d a yudder tetched a live yattlesnake dan dat cha’ w’ere de ghose had set, but I had to do it. So I prayed ef de Lord would spare my life dat time I’d try to be a better ’oman. An’ I push dat cha’ back sort ob gingerly, an’ all my flesh creepin’ offen my bones. An’ yes, young marse, many an’ many’s de time sence dat I hab had to wait on de ghoses, as I couldn’ see! No, I couldn’t see, nor likewise year! Tanks be to goodness fo’ dat much! Fo’ ef I had seed or yeard dem indiwisable fings I should a-drap down dead! I know I should!” “Martha, there is no reality in all this. They are but the delusions, hallucinations of an infirm brain,” said Harcourt gravely. “Young marse, yo’ may call ’em ’lusions or ’lucinations, or any fine name yo’ please, an’ so do I—sometimes—but mos’ly I do call ’em by de name I knowed ’em by w’en I was a young ’oman. I calls ’em ghoses. But dere! I mus’ ’liver Missus Wyn’op’s messidge. She tell me to tell yo’, w’en yo’ come out, to come into her yoom an’ see her.” “Very well, I will go at once,” said the young man; and leaving Martha to rejoin her mistress, who was never left alone, he went directly to Mrs. Wynthrop’s sitting-room. He found the three tall, fair women employed as they had been on his first call. They all left work and made him welcome to the fireside. “How did you find the dear mother?” inquired the elder lady. “Not so well as I had been led to expect,” said Harcourt with a sigh. “But, indeed, beyond the weakness of her limbs, due to her one single malady, she has good health. She never suffers in mind or body. She has a good appetite, fine spirits, and she enjoys life oven more than we do, I fancy. Think of that, Mr. Harcourt.” “Yes—I know—but——” “But she has her illusions, you mean to say? Well, these illusions never disturb her; they soothe and satisfy her. We should accept them.” “Is she under medical treatment?” “Dr. Wall attended her during her severe illness, and Dr. Lathrop was called in as consulting physician when disease of the brain began to develop. Dr. Wall has lately ceased his visits, as unnecessary, but Dr. Lathrop comes two or three times a week. He has retired from practice, but he comes to Mrs. Harcourt, because he is something of a specialist on nerves and brain, and also he comes to her for old neighborhood’s sake.” “What is his opinion of her condition?” “He thinks that she requires only tonics, full nutrition, fresh air, and such passive exercise as we can give her. He thinks that she may live many years in this condition, but that her final recovery can scarcely be hoped for.” Harcourt sighed profoundly, and after some little delay said: “Will you pardon me, madam, if I venture to speak of business?” “What a question! Of course, business must be spoken of,” said the kindly but very practical hostess. “Then—during my mother’s illness there must have been expenses—debts incurred—and——” “There were expenses, certainly, but there are no debts.”