CHAPTER XXIX Her conductor knocked at the study door, and the next minute Marigold entered. The old feeling returned of familiarity with her surroundings, and Mr Barringcourt, all anxiety banished from his face, seemed to bring back still more remembrances. And Marigold looked at him, a mixture of health and blushes in her cheeks. “Good--good-morning,” she said, and held out her hand. “Good--yes. Good-morning. You have slept very soundly through the night.” “Yes; and it is very pleasant waking. That is--if--if you will forget all about my wickedness last night.” “I can remember no wickedness--nothing but good.” “Don’t you really think then it was very wicked of me?” And she looked up at him seriously, evidently no judge of her own line of conduct. “No.” And he looked at her honestly and simply. “It is very kind of you. Ah! there is Rosalie’s (her intonation on the word was very sweet) portrait, the one that was in little Patches’ room. You will be going to her, will you not?” “Yes, very shortly.” “And I wish you every happiness. But there is one thing, Mr Barringcourt.” “What is it?” “When you are married to Rosalie, you will never tell her about me. How I loved you and hated her, and all the things I did. She wouldn’t understand, you know. Women haven’t so much sympathy with one another. I don’t know how it is, but it is so.” “I think she would have every sympathy with you.” “But you will not tell her?” “Not if you wish it.” “What medicine did you give me, that has made me feel so well, so different?” “A very simple one. A moral tonic, prescribed specially by Heaven for those who acknowledge their own weakness, and have conquered it.” “I am thinking of going back to Fairy Sky very shortly. And, with all due deference to you as a physician, I must go back to Mendona House to-night. I--I am beginning to study appearances, and I don’t think it is quite the thing for me to be here. But I should like a bottle of medicine, if you can spare it.” “Oh! you will find the one dose quite sufficient. But why should you not stay here? It is part hospital, part workhouse--and it will not be for long.” “What do you mean?” “Come with me.” And he led her into the inner room with all its appliances--scientific and otherwise. And again the feeling of familiarity returned to Marigold. And there upon the table was a crystal, and he took it and gave it into her hand, and set the room in darkness, with the door closed; and then he came and held her other hand, and, on the instant, a pale-blue mystic light lit up the magic ball.