One day she collected all the girl's little effects, her work-box, her two or three books, and after kissing them each passionately a dozen times, put them away together in a cupboard in her own bed-room, where she could visit and kiss them again privately at intervals. But the next day, the remembrance of the girl's perfidy, of her love for a man, so excited her jealous hatred again, that she turned all the treasures out of the cupboard, tore them up and threw them in the fire, feeling a grim satisfaction in so doing. But an hour after she repented again with moans and tears for what she had done. She felt as if she had been tearing her own heart strings out. She hated herself for her cruelty in having destroyed all her darling's little favourite things. The ruthless Nihilist, in short, acted generally in much the same silly fashion as the greenest school-girl would have acted under similar circumstances. Dr. Duncan was very surprised to find that day after day passed, and yet Catherine King did not call at the hospital to make inquiries about her niece. At last he wrote to her. He informed her that Mary's illness had taken the form of brain fever, but that she would in all probability recover. He also incidentally conveyed to her the same bit of news which had so relieved the fears of Susan Riley--the death of the barrister. This letter caused a revulsion in the woman's feelings and greatly excited her. She started for the hospital as soon as she received it, and on arriving there asked for Dr. Duncan. She was shown into a waiting-room and the doctor soon appeared. "Well, doctor, so she is much better?" "Not exactly that, Mrs. King, but progressing favourably." "Can I see her?" "I think she is asleep. Sleep of course is of the greatest importance just now, but I think if you desire it you might see her without disturbing her." "Is she in her right mind? can she recognize people?" "Hardly yet; the fever is still on her, but she does not exhibit much delirium." "So the 'shock' is dead?" "The unfortunate Mr. Hudson, if that is what you mean, is dead, but I don't consider the shock of seeing him was the real cause of your niece's illness. It would have come sooner or later without that." "Indeed! Then what do you consider was the cause, Dr. Duncan?" "As I told you the last time you were here, Mrs. King, there is something on her mind." "There is," said Catherine, "and I think I know what it is." She spoke irritably, as the thought of the love which she imagined existed between Mary and the barrister rose to her mind. "And until that something is taken off her mind she will never recover," continued the doctor. "The something is gone now, Dr. Duncan," she said, looking straight into his eyes. "I hope that is so," he replied doubtfully. "What a fool the man must be not to understand me," thought Catherine; but the doctor had very good reasons to know that it was not love for Tom Hudson that weighed on the young girl's mind.