"When am I to have the honor of the lady's visit?" she inquired, with
ironical resignation.
"To-day," answered her nephew, with impenetrable patience.
"At what hour?"
Julian composedly consulted his watch. "She is ten minutes after her
time," he said, and put his watch back in his pocket again.
At the same moment the servant appeared, and advanced to Julian,
carrying a visiting card on his little silver tray.
"A lady to see you, sir."
Julian took the card, and, bowing, handed it to his aunt.
"Here she is," he said, just as quietly as ever.
Lady Janet looked at the card, and tossed it indignantly back to her
nephew. "Miss Roseberry!" she exclaimed. "Printed--actually printed on
her card! Julian, even MY patience has its limits. I refuse to see her!"
The servant was still waiting--not like a human being who took an
interest in the proceedings, but (as became a perfectly bred footman)
like an article of furniture artfully constructed to come and go at
the word of command. Julian gave the word of command, addressing the
admirably constructed automaton by the name of "James."
"Where is the lady now?" he asked.
"In the breakfast-room, sir."
"Leave her there, if you please, and wait outside within hearing of the
bell."
The legs of the furniture-footman acted, and took him noiselessly out of
the room. Julian turned to his aunt.
"Forgive me," he said, "for venturing to give the man his orders in your
presence. I am very anxious that you should not decide hastily. Surely
we ought to hear what this lady has to say?"
Horace dissented widely from his friend's opinion. "It's an insult to
Grace," he broke out, warmly, "to hear what she has to say!"
Lady Janet nodded her head in high approval. "I think so, too," said her
ladyship, crossing her handsome old hands resolutely on her lap.
Julian applied himself to answering Horace first.
"Pardon me," he said. "I have no intention of presuming to reflect on
Miss Roseberry, or of bringing her into the matter at all.--The consul's
letter," he went on, speaking to his aunt, "mentions, if you remember,
that the medical authorities of Mannheim were divided in opinion on
their patient's case. Some of them--the physician-in-chief being among
the number--believe that the recovery of her mind has not accompanied
the recovery of her body."
"In other words," Lady Janet remarked, "a madwoman is in my house, and I
am expected to receive her!"
"Don't let us exaggerate," said Julian, gently. "It can serve no good
interest, in this serious matter, to exaggerate anything. The consul
assures us, on the authority of the doctor, that she is perfectly gentle
and harmless. If she is really the victim of a mental delusion, the poor
creature is surely an object of compassion, and she ought to be placed
under proper care. Ask your own kind heart, my dear aunt, if it would
not be downright cruelty to turn this forlorn woman adrift in the world
without making some inquiry first."