Curiously yours,
THE PRINCESS
NEW YORK CITY
September 17th
Dear Portia:
Lies! All counts of the indictment to be immediately
quashed--save the very last!
RICHARD WARREN
GREEN HILL
September 19
Diary, I have a two-line letter from Richard Warren which I am afraid
to answer. And it's all my fault!
CHAPTER VI
Revelations and Results
GREEN HILL
September 20
The New Young Man has arrived in our village. An embarrassment of
riches! He is a college friend of that Doctor Person, a painter and a
poet as well! I have graciously given my consent that he be brought to
call. I wonder what he looks like? Not like his name, I hope, which is
Penny! Father just came upstairs, and asked me if I would be ready to
see Dr. Denton in fifteen minutes. He looked quite funny when he said
it, and seemed so ill at ease. I can't imagine.... Well, Diary,
although the Doctor doesn't deserve it, I fancy I shall call Sarah and
tell her to get me the rose-and-grey bed jacket which is so
becoming--to my room!
Three Hours Later
Diary, it's not possible! I can't believe it! I've been here half an
hour alone, trying to realize all that it will mean to me, and trying
to collect my thoughts. Fifteen minutes to the second after Father
spoke to me about this impending and oddly formal visit of the
Doctor's, he ushered that gentleman into the room, placed a low chair
for him by the bed, and then, taking my hands, said very gravely,
"Mavis, Dr. Denton wants to talk to you for a little while. He has
something which he is very anxious to persuade you to do. I have told
him that, without your consent, it is impossible. You know that I will
never force you to anything. But will you listen to him, dear, and for
all our sakes try to say 'Yes'?" As if he had to plead with me, my
father, for whom I would do anything in the world!
Since the day I was brought home, broken, I have never seen my Father
so moved. More out of nervousness than anything else, I said, "Daddy,
it sounds like a proposal!"
The minute I said it I was sorry--and glad. For although Father
laughed, Dr. Denton looked perfectly furious! It must be painful to
turn the color he does--like a--a chameleon.
Then Father kissed me. Under his breath I heard him say, "God bless my
Mavis!" and in a moment I was alone with the enemy.
The steel-blue eyes regarded me for a full moment, and then, almost
sternly, he spoke.
"Miss Carroll," he said, "with your permission, and with your help,
without which we can do nothing, we are going to ask you to make a
series of efforts: first, to sit erect unaided; then, to stand; and,
by slow degrees, to walk."
There was something so confident in his tone! Perhaps he might have
gone on, but I flung out both hands to him, and he waited.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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