The Argosy — page 276: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Court Netherleigh. 259 objection ; it seemed as though she no longer cared a straw where she went, or what became of her. ‘“‘If we offered to box her up in a coffin and bury her in the ground for good and all, I don’t believe she’d say no,” tartly spoke Lady Harriet one day to the laird. To Paris they came, reaching it during March, and M. le Docteur Féron was at once called in, a man of great repute among the English. It was now April, and M. le Docteur, with all his skill, had done nothing. ‘“‘ But truly there’s no reason in it, miladi,” he was saying this fine day, to Lady Harriet, in English, the language he generally chose to use with his patients, however perfectly they might speak his own. ‘‘ Miladi Adela has nothing grave amiss with her ; absolutely nothing. To sit as she does has no reason init. ‘There is no sense common within it.” “ As I tell her continually,” rejoined Lady Harriet, smiling to herself at his quaint phrases. | ‘What illness she has rests on the nerves, see you,” proceeded the doctor. “A little on the mind. ‘The earliest day I saw her I did ask whether she did have one great shock, or trouble: you re- member of that, do you not, madame?” ‘¢ But—good gracious !—one ought not to give way perpetually to any shock, or trouble—even if one has had such a thing,” remon- strated Lady Harriet. ‘“ As I say. Can anything be more clear? Miladi has nothing to render her sick, and yet miladi sits there, all sick, day after day.—— You hear, miladi?”—turning to Lady Adela. “Oh, yes, I hear,” she gently answered, lifting her wan but still lovely face for a moment, and then letting it droop again. ‘“‘ And it is time to finish this state of things,” resumed the doctor to Lady Harriet. ‘It must be finished, see you, madame.” “Tt ought to be,” acquiesced Lady Harriet. ‘But if she does not end it herself, how are we to do it?” “You go out yourself, madame, with monsieur, your husband, into a little society, cheerful: is it not so?” spoke the doctor, after a pause of consideration, during which he stroked his face with his gloved hand. “Of course we do, M. Féron; we are not hermits, and Paris is gay just now,” quickly answered Lady Harriet. ‘We go to the Blunts’ to-night.” “Then take her at once also; take her with you. That may be tried. If it does not result, truly I shall not know what to propose. Drugs are hopeless in a case like this,” added the doctor as he made two elaborate bows, one to each lady, and went out. ‘Now, Adela, you /ear/” began Lady Harriet, the moment the door closed, and her voice was sternly resolute.- ‘“‘ We have tried everything, and now we shall try this. You go with us to Mrs. Blunt’s to-night.” — GOnilGaooks (CO)