'Thank you, Mrs Hopgood,' looking at Madge and meeting her eyes, 'I
think it very likely I shall stay, and if I do I will most certainly
accept your kind invitation.'
CHAPTER V
Sunday morning came, and Frank, being in the country, considered
himself absolved from the duty of going to church, and went for a
long stroll. At half-past one he presented himself at Mrs Hopgood's
house.
'I have had a letter from London,' said Clara to Frank, 'telling me a
most extraordinary story, and I should like to know what you think of
it. A man, who was left a widower, had an only child, a lovely
daughter of about fourteen years old, in whose existence his own was
completely wrapped up. She was subject at times to curious fits of
self-absorption or absence of mind, and while she was under their
influence she resembled a somnambulist rather than a sane human being
awake. Her father would not take her to a physician, for he dreaded
lest he should be advised to send her away from home, and he also
feared the effect which any recognition of her disorder might have
upon her. He believed that in obscure and half-mental diseases like
hers, it was prudent to suppress all notice of them, and that if he
behaved to her as if she were perfectly well, she would stand a
chance of recovery. Moreover, the child was visibly improving, and
it was probable that the disturbance in her health would be speedily
outgrown.
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