tch's distrust has long since falsely suspected me of
some professional rivalry pursued in secret; the feeling showed itself
again, when I met with him by accident on the night of my return to
London. Since Mr. Null has communicated with him, the landlady is
no longer insulted by his visits, and offended by his questions--all
relating to the course of treatment which I was pursuing upstairs.

"You now understand why I have ventured to trouble you on a purely
professional topic. To turn to matters of more interest--our dear
Carmina is well enough to remember you, and to send her love to you and
the girls. But even this little effort is followed by fatigue.

"I don't mean only fatigue of body: that is now a question of time and
care. I mean fatigue of mind--expressing itself by defect of memory.

"On the morning when the first positive change for the better appeared,
I was at her bedside when she woke. She looked at me in amazement.
'Why didn't you warn me of your sudden return?' she asked, 'I have only
written to you to-day--to your bankers at Quebec! What does it mean?'

"I did my best to soothe her, and succeeded. There is a complete lapse
in her memory--I am only too sure of it! She has no recollection of
anything that has happened since she wrote her last letter to me--a
letter which must have been lost (perhaps intercepted?), or I should
have received it before I left Quebec. This forgetfulness of the
dreadful trials through which my poor darling has passed, is, in itself,
a circumstance which we must all rejoice over for her sake. But I am
discouraged by it, at the same time; fearing it may indicate some more
serious injury than I have yet discovered.

"Miss Minerva--what should I do without the help and sympathy of that
best of true women?--Miss Minerva has cautiously tested her memory in
other directions, with encouraging results, so far. But I shall not feel
easy until I have tried further experiments, by means of some person
who does not exercise a powerful influence over her, and whose memory is
naturally occupied with what we older people call trifles.

"When you all leave Scotland next month, bring Zo here with you. My dear
little correspondent is just the sort of quaint child I want for the
purpose. Kiss her for me till she is out of breath--and say that is what
I mean to do when we meet."

The return to London took place in the last week in October.

Lord and Lady Northlake went to their town reside