"It is impossible for me to pronounce. From the character of the disease in her, I should say it would grow; but its culmination may not be intense. Neither good health nor good spirits will much profit her. Illness, indeed, is sometimes beneficial to madness. I once had a patient under my charge whom I considered incurable. He was seized with scarlet fever, which was within an ace of killing him. He escaped death by a miracle, and when the delirium passed, I found he had recovered his mind." "But in the case of my wife, should you think her madness hereditary or acquired?" "There again you puzzle me. It would be necessary for me to hear Mrs. Thorburn's history before I could hazard a conjecture." "Her history is brief. She married a man who ill-treated her. Her sufferings must have been great, for it has made her detest the world and shun society like a plague. But I can discern no madness in this. It would be the natural attitude of a young mind embittered by wrong. "As you say, her attitude is no proof of madness, but the cause that forced her into that attitude may have induced madness." "You would attribute her derangement to her first husband's ill-treatment?" "Her ill-treatment may have been one cause. If there were a previous disposition to madness a very painful experience would hardly fail to excite it. In my own mind, I have little doubt that she is oppressed with some recollection, of which the removal would benefit, if it did not cure her." "Surely, I should be able to ascertain it?" "Better than any one else. But you will have to be very cautious in your approaches. Yet you will hardly need tuition in such a matter. Your knowledge of her character will teach you better how to act than any suggestions from a stranger. With respect to myself, I do not see that I can be of any further use to you. Indeed, I doubt if my stay here would be advisable. My presence irritates her; and it must be your business to keep her mind as composed and tranquil as possible." "I am perfectly in your hands, doctor; and however you may act, I am sure it will be for the best." We remained together until after twelve. Our conversation was entirely restricted to the one subject. He had had much experience of madness and illustrated the information I gave him respecting my wife's derangement by anecdotes of corresponding peculiarities in other cases he had met with. On separating, I conducted him to his room, and then returned to see after the house for the night, as was my custom. At the bottom of the staircase I met Mrs. Williams, candle in hand, going to bed. "I am afraid we have kept you up rather late," I said. "Oh! never mention that, Sir. I only trust and pray that the doctor's visit here may be of use." "Of no use, I fear," I replied, "except to confirm my sorrow. He does not doubt that she is insane." "I feared so, I feared so," she said, shaking her head.