Part 14 (1/2)
”Nothing.”
”Yes, you do. You want me to see her and find out what she's doing here. It is Kate to the rescue! I will go to-morrow.”
”You are too precipitate! You might wait and get my mind.”
”I have your mind already, and I believe in doing things vigorously.
Besides, you've roused my curiosity. After all these years of waiting to see you get interested in something besides your 'bugs'!--I'm delighted to know you're human, and that there is one woman in the world who can make you moan. You are hit--don't deny it! You've been brooding on that girl all this time. I've known you were hit, but I thought I would wait till you cared to speak. I'm crazy to see her. I shall act at once.”
”It's too much to ask of you, but I hope you will consider me to the extent--”
”If your theory is correct that girl ought to be s.n.a.t.c.hed away before the mob of occultists, freaks, and flatterers of this city utterly spoil her. Anyhow, I'm going to look into her case on my own account.”
And in this determination she snuggled into the corner of the carriage and became silent.
Serviss found that sharing his experience with his sister had enormously increased the weight and importance of his doubt. Viola and her singular beleaguerment had suddenly grown to be a vital problem--something to be immediately seized upon, and he casually added: ”It is only fair to say that the Lamberts are above the need of taking money for any display of 'psychic force.'”
Suddenly Kate sat up. ”Suppose the girl really _has_ these powers?”
”That is impossible!”
”Why impossible? Do you men of science pretend to know _all_ there is to know?”
”Certainly not; but think what such an admission involves.”
”No matter _what_ it involves. You don't ask what the X-ray involves; you ask, first of all, is it a fact? If the girl has these powers, then what? You don't even know what she claims, do you?”
”Not in detail.”
”Well, then, don't condemn her till you know what you're condemning her for.”
”Kate, you amaze me. I thought you would commend my cool judgment, my sanity, and lo and behold! as Aunt Celina says, you have become the girl's advocate and the a.s.sailant of science.”
”Not at all. I merely say you scientific people should not be so insultingly sure that people with a faith are fools.”
”We don't say fools--we merely say misinformed.”
”Anyhow, you've interested me in this medium--”
”For Heaven's sake, don't call her that if you're going to see her. To apply such a name to that sweet child is an outrage.”
Kate's voice was exultant as she cried out: ”Now I know you're in love with her.”
”Mrs. Rice, you are a very wise woman.”
”I hope I shall not find you a very silly scientist,” she replied, with several implications of superiority in both words and tone.
III
BRITT COMES TO DINE