"Because," said Scarlett, in a low hoarse whisper, as if he dreaded that the very breeze might bear away his confession--"I know it--I feel it--I can tell as well as can be, without something always seeming to whisper it in my ears--I am going mad!" He covered his face with his hands, and sank lower in his seat, panting heavily, and his breath coming and going each minute in a piteous sigh; while, after watching him intently for a few moments, the doctor rose and stood by his side. Volume 2, Chapter III. DOCTOR AND FRIEND. A wonderful stillness seemed to have fallen, and not even a bird twittered or uttered a note in the hot midsummer sunshine. Once from the distance came the low soft murmur of the weir, but that died away, and scarcely a leaf rustled, so that when the doctor spoke, his firm deep tones sounded as if all nature in that lovely country-home were listening for the verdict he was about to deliver to the stricken man. "James Scarlett," he said firmly, "I hold a double position here: I am your old friend--I am your doctor." "Yes," said Scarlett in a whisper, but without changing his position. "I am going to speak the simple truth; I am going to hide nothing. I am about to give you plain facts. Will you trust me?" "Yes. I have always trusted you." "Will you believe me? I need not swear?" "No, Jack, no," said Scarlett, letting his hands fall from his haggard face. "I believe your word: I do indeed." "You asked me not to leave you." "Yes: for heaven's sake, stay." "I will not leave you; and if I can, I'll bring you back to health." "Yes," said Scarlett, shuddering. "And you will not let them drag me away. Jack!--Kate has been planning it with Arthur--an asylum--and I dare not speak, I should be so violent, and make it worse." "You shan't be dragged away, old man, and you need not fancy that any such plans are being made." "Even if it came to the worst," said Scarlett pitifully, "you could keep me down. O Jack, I could not bear it; I'd sooner die!" "Let me speak out at once, my dear boy," said the doctor. "The terrible shock to your nerves has made you so weak that you fancy all these things. It is the natural outcome of such a state as yours. Now, listen: you said you would believe me." "Yes, yes; and I will." "I am glad you have spoken. I knew all this; but I am not sorry you indorsed it. You are haunted by a horrible dread that you are about to lose your reason." "Yes," moaned Scarlett; "and it is so hard--so hard!" "Then you may take this comfort to your heart: you are not in the slightest degree likely to become insane; and, what is more, I am as good as certain that, sooner or later, you will recover your health." "Jack!" "You said that you would trust in me." "Yes--I did--and I will try--so hard. There, I am trying--you see how I am trying. Stand by me, Jack, and help me. Tell me what to do--do you hear! Tell me what to _do_!"