Page:How I Cured a Hopeless Paralytic.pdf/6

568 indigestion, his inability to pull the beer-engine or to move a barrel, and finally exhibited the nerveless droop of his wrist, I had no need of the blue line upon his gums to convince me that he, too, had succumbed to the prevailing malady. I had no faculty of amazement left now; never had I seen anything like it! The disease had assumed the proportions of an epidemic. I felt it was getting on my nerves, and that I must have a positive analysis of my specimens at once. And so, having taken a sample of the water from the "Goose and Gridiron," I looked in on the two old patients, and then rode on to Southampton with my carrier full of rattling bottles.

I lunched at the "Star" in High Street, and leaving the machine there, took my samples to the firm of wholesale druggists whom Wild dealt with. It was but a very simple analysis that was wanted, and I felt both pleased and vexed when they discovered no more than myself—pleased that my chemical knowledge had not grown rusty, and very much annoyed to be unrelieved of my incubus. This matter disposed of, I dawdled round until the conventional visiting hour.

From my first visit to the Innes's in London they had let me see very plainly that I was not their most unwelcome visitor; remembering all the circumstances of our acquaintance, it would have been a strange thing had I been otherwise. But I was for ever doubting whether this cordiality, on the part of Miss Innes, at least, was anything more than gratitude for past services, and whether I should imperil my footing in the house by any attempt to render it a more intimate one. And now, to-day, at Southampton, I was filled with new alarms. On a former visit I had met a certain Major Johnstone of the Army Medical Department (an excellent fellow, by the way), and finding him there again I must needs imagine all sorts of half-hidden familiarities between him and Louise, and so began to cordially detest him. But I was in love, and therefore to some extent irresponsible. I thought of salving my peace of mind by seeing my military friend out. But it was no good; and when Mrs. Innes spoke of asking him to witness some share transfers, I thought I discovered a possible hint, and rose to go, but this the elder lady would by no means hear of, and in a little time Louise and I were alone.

Why is it that when a man is most anxious to shine he is pretty sure to make an ass of himself? Here was the opportunity I had long looked for. I had rehearsed the scene over and over again. Myself calm, manly, and with a certain melancholy dignity, laying my hand and (no) fortune at the feet of Louise; she timid, silent, and, of course, blushing, receiving my addresses in maidenly confusion. She would probably weep—at least the novelists seemed to say so; or was I anticipating, and did they only do it later on at the wedding? If tears arose the proper thing was to kiss them away, whereupon she would smile upon me, still bashfully, and then I should mount my horse (my cycle in this case), and at home pen the manifesto in which I should demand the daughter's hand from her mother. It all ran so smoothly when I was safely alone, but now—! My throat seemed parched, and my tongue dry; I wished I had never taken that sherry at lunch. My collar felt tight, too—strange I had never noticed it before! And, worst of all, my nose began to itch! This was horrible; to scratch it would spoil the situation for ever! How I wished Miss Innes would go away if only for a moment, so that I might get into fighting trim, so to speak. I suppose she noticed my embarrassment, for, tactful as ever, she made conversation. Dr. Johnstone was such a charming man (confound him!); an old friend of her father's and his executor (good—that explained his frequent presence); he had married a cousin of theirs (blessings on him!).

I was so delighted to hear this that I found my tongue again with the doltish remark, "Ah, I wondered why he was here so much!" Her eyes beneath her perfectly arched brows met mine with a look of calm inquiry; those wonderful dark eyes, fathomless abysses, as they had seemed the first time I saw her! What an impertinent fool I must seem! And, trying to better matters, I floundered dismally.

"No, I don't mean that! I thought—I mean I was afraid he was—Miss Innes, I want to tell you that you are always in my thoughts." My tongue felt like a thong of leather. Suddenly I remembered a sentence I had rehearsed often enough, and in a voice which I intended to be thrilling, but which was only sepulchral, went on: "Louise, may I hope you are not indifferent to me?" How tame and flat it sounded after I had got it off! And the dear girl never laughed.