“No, miss. When I did get to sleep I was troubled by dreams. Another bad night--and no mistake!” “I suspect your mind is not quite at ease,” Francine suggested. “Why do you suspect that, if you please?” “You talked, when I met you at Miss Emily’s, of wanting to get away from your own thoughts. Has the change to this place helped you?” “It hasn’t helped me as I expected. Some people’s thoughts stick fast.” “Remorseful thoughts?” Francine inquired. Mrs. Ellmother held up her forefinger, and shook it with a gesture of reproof. “I thought we agreed, miss, that there was to be no pumping.” The business of the toilet proceeded in silence. A week passed. During an interval in the labors of the school, Miss Ladd knocked at the door of Francine’s room. “I want to speak to you, my dear, about Mrs. Ellmother. Have you noticed that she doesn’t seem to be in good health?” “She looks rather pale, Miss Ladd.” “It’s more serious than that, Francine. The servants tell me that she has hardly any appetite. She herself acknowledges that she sleeps badly. I noticed her yesterday evening in the garden, under the schoolroom window. One of the girls dropped a dictionary. She started at that slight noise, as if it terrified her. Her nerves are seriously out of order. Can you prevail upon her to see the doctor?” Francine hesitated--and made an excuse. “I think she would be much more likely, Miss Ladd, to listen to you. Do you mind speaking to her?” “Certainly not!” Mrs. Ellmother was immediately sent for. “What is your pleasure, miss?” she said to Francine. Miss Ladd interposed. “It is I who wish to speak to you, Mrs. Ellmother. For some days past, I have been sorry to see you looking ill.” “I never was ill in my life, ma’am.” Miss Ladd gently persisted. “I hear that you have lost your appetite.” “I never was a great eater, ma’am.” It was evidently useless to risk any further allusion to Mrs. Ellmother’s symptoms. Miss Ladd tried another method of persuasion. “I daresay I may be mistaken,” she said; “but I do really feel anxious about you. To set my mind at rest, will you see the doctor?” “The doctor! Do you think I’m going to begin taking physic, at my time of life? Lord, ma’am! you amuse me--you do indeed!” She burst into a sudden fit of laughter; the hysterical laughter which is on the verge of tears. With a desperate effort, she controlled herself. “Please, don’t make a fool of me again,” she said--and left the room. “What do you think now?” Miss Ladd asked. Francine appeared to be still on her guard. “I don’t know what to think,” she said evasively. Miss Ladd looked at her in silent surprise, and withdrew.