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plum…pudding in the van。 But he repressed it； got into a hansom；
and was driven to his father…in…law's house in Belsize Avenue；
studying in a gloomily critical mood the anxiety that surged upon
him and made his heart beat like a boy's as he drew near his
destination。 There were two carriages at the door when he
alighted。 The reticent expression of the coachmen sent a tremor
through him。
The door opened before he rang。 〃If you please； sir；〃 said the
maid in a low voice； 〃will you step into the library； and the
doctor will see you immediately。〃
On the first landing of the staircase two gentlemen were speaking
to Mr。 Jansenius； who hastily moved out of sight； not before a
glimpse of his air of grief 174 and discomfiture had given
Trefusis a strange twinge； succeeded by a sensation of having
been twenty years a widower。 He smiled unconcernedly as he
followed the girl into the library； and asked her how she did。
She murmured some reply and hurried away； thinking that the poor
young man would alter his tone presently。
He was joined at once by a gray whiskered gentleman； scrupulously
dressed and mannered。 Trefusis introduced himself； and the
physician looked at him with some interest。 Then he said：
〃You have arrived too late； Mr。 Trefusis。 All is over； I am sorry
to say。〃
〃Was the long railway journey she took in this cold weather the
cause of her death？〃
Some bitter words that the physician had heard upstairs made him
aware that this was a delicate question。 But he said quietly：
〃The proximate cause； doubtless。 The proximate cause。〃
〃She received some unwelcome and quite unlooked…for intelligence
before she started。 Had that anything to do with her death； do
you think？〃
〃It may have produced an unfavorable effect；〃 said the physician；
growing restive and taking up his gloves。 〃The habit of referring
such events to such causes is carried too far； as a rule。〃
〃No doubt。 I am curious because the event is novel in my
experience。 I suppose it is a commonplace in yours。 Pardon me。
175 The loss of a lady so young and so favorably circumstanced
is not a commonplace either in my experience or in my opinion。〃
The physician held up his head as he spoke； in protest against
any assumption that his sympathies had been blunted by his
profession。
〃Did she suffer？〃
〃For some hours； yes。 We were able to do a little to alleviate
her painpoor thing！〃 He almost forgot Trefusis as he added the
apostrophe。
〃Hours of pain！ Can you conceive any good purpose that those
hours may have served？〃
The physician shook his head； leaving it doubtful whether he
meant to reply in the negative or to deplore considerations of
that nature。 He also made a movement to depart； being uneasy in
conversation with Trefusis； who would； he felt sure； presently
ask questions or make remarks with which he could hardly deal
without committing himself in some direction。 His conscience was
not quite at rest。 Henrietta's pain had not； he thought； served
any good purpose； but he did not want to say so； lest he should
acquire a reputation for impiety and lose his practice。 He
believed that the general practitioner who attended the family；
and had called him in when the case grew serious； had treated
Henrietta unskilfully； but professional etiquette bound him so
strongly that； sooner than betray his colleague's inefficiency；
he would have allowed him to decimate London。
〃One word more；〃 said Trefusis。 〃Did she know that she was
dying？〃
〃No。 I considered it best that she should not be informed of her
danger。 She passed away without any apprehension。〃
〃Then one can think of it with equanimity。 She dreaded death；
poor child。 The wonder is that there was not enough folly in the
household to prevail against your good sense。〃
The physician bowed and took his leave； esteeming himself
somewhat fortunate in escaping without being reproached for his
humanity in having allowed Henrietta to die unawares。
A moment later the general practitioner entered。 Trefusis； having
accompanied the consulting physician to the door； detected the
family doctor in the act of pulling a long face just outside it。
Restraining a desire to seize him by the throat； he seated
himself on the edge of the table and said cheerfully：
〃Well； doctor； how has the world used you since we last met？〃
The doctor was taken aback； but the solemn disposition of his
features did not relax as he almost intoned： 〃Has Sir Francis
told you the sad news； Mr。 Trefusis？〃
〃Yes。 Frightful； isn't it？ Lord bless me； we're here to…day and
gone to…morrow。〃
〃True； very true！〃
〃Sir Francis has a high opinion of you。〃
The doctor looked a little foolish。 〃Everything was done that
could be done； Mr。 Trefusis； but Mrs。 Jansenius was very anxious
that no stone should be left unturned。 She was good enough to say
that her sole reason for wishing me to call in Sir Francis was
that you should have no cause to complain。〃
〃Indeed！〃
〃An excellent mother！ A sad event for her！ Ah； yes； yes！ Dear me！
A very sad event！〃
〃Most disagreeable。 Such a cold day too。 Pleasanter to be in
heaven than here in such weather； possibly。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the doctor； as if much sound comfort lay in that。 〃I
hope so； I hope so； I do not doubt it。 Sir Francis did not permit
us to tell her； and I； of course； deferred to him。 Perhaps it was
for the best。〃
〃You would have told her； then； if Sir Francis had not objected？〃
〃Well； there are； you see； considerations which we must not
ignore in our profession。 Death is a serious thing； as I am sure
I need not remind you； Mr。 Trefusis。 We have sometimes higher
duties than indulgence to the natural feelings of our patients。〃
〃Quite so。 The possibility of eternal bliss and the probability
of eternal torment are consolations not to be lightly withheld
from a dying girl； eh？ However； what's past cannot be mended。 I
have much to be thankful for； after all。 I am a young man； and
shall not cut a bad figure as a widower。 And now tell me； doctor；
am I not in very bad repute upstairs？〃
〃Mr。 Trefusis！ Sir！ I cannot meddle in family matters。 I
understand my duties and never over step them。〃 The doctor；
shocked at last； spoke as loftily as he could。
〃Then I will go and see Mr。 Jansenius；〃 said Trefusis； getting
off the table。
〃Stay； sir！ One moment。 I have not finished。 Mrs。 Jansenius has
asked me to askI was about to say that I am not speaking now as
the medical adviser of this family； but although an old
friendandahem！ Mrs。 Jansenius has asked me to askto request
you to excuse Mr。 Jansenius； as he is prostrated by grief； and
is； as I canas a medical manassure you； unable to see anyone。
She will speak to you herself as soon as she feels able to do
soat some time this evening。 Meanwhile； of course； any orders
you may giveyou must be fatigued by your journey； and I always
recommend people not to fast too long； it produces an acute form
of indigestionany orders you may wish to give will； of course；
be attended to at once。〃
〃I think；〃 said Trefusis； after a moment's reflection； 〃I will
order a hansom。〃
〃There is no ill…feeling；〃 said the doctor； who； as a slow man；
was