know what is the matter
with him now, and what he is driving at, though I must assume ignorance
for a while yet. The patient must tell his symptoms, and then the doctor
will give him the physic he needs, and proceed to make a new man of him.
That is what I am after now, and the good work must not be spoiled by
undue haste. So I put on a decorous air of sympathy, and said,

"That's all bosh, you know. If anything is the matter with you
physically, I ought to hear about it; but I don't believe there is. As
for the mind, we are all subject to gloomy moods and periods of
depression; but they pass, Jim--they pass. You believed in friendship
before; hadn't you better tell me what you think ails you?"

"I can't talk about it, except in this roundabout way: what's the use?
Best keep to broad principles: the particular case only illustrates the
general law. I knew it of old: what business had I to expose myself
again? What would you do with a child who will keep on playing about
moving cars, or mill machinery? Let him fall under the wheels, and rid
the earth of an idiot."

"O no: pull him out in time, and he'll learn better. Well, Jim, you
might at least tell me what hand I had in this catastrophe."

"O, none, none whatever: how should you? You never laid any plots for
me, and used me for your mirth. You never devised an elaborately
concealed ambush, and smoothed it over till I was in the snare. That
would be foreign to your open and candid nature. It is very good fun to
practice on unsuspecting innocence; but you are far above that."

"See here, Hartman: you talk as if my house were a den of iniquity. If
so, I was not aware of it till now. Your ill opinion has not thus far
been reciprocated. We entertain none but kind feelings toward you: we
all regretted your hasty departure. You were received as a friend, and
treated as such, I believe. My wife and sister often speak of you: you
could command their fullest sympathy in this, or any trouble, real or
imaginary."

"That I never doubted: I owe them nothing but pleasant memories, and
thankful good will.--You need not stare at me so: I make no charges, and
imply none.--Well, if you must have it, I can say that every member of
your family has my absolute respect,--down to the twins; do you
understand? If I have any grudge, it is toward you alone."

It was plain that he forced himself to say this--or some of it--as if it
were coming perilously near a name he could not utter. H