"WHERE IS MY BROTHER?"

Let me see the writing.
My lord, 't is nothing.
No matter, then, who sees it;
I will be satisfied, let me see the writing.

_Richard II_.

What is the explanation of Carmel's reappearance in town and of this
sensational introduction of her into the court-room, in a restored
state of health of which no one, so far as known, had had any
intimation save the man who was responsible for her appearance? The
particulars are due you.

She had passed some weeks at Lakewood, under the eye of the nurse who was
detailed to watch, as well as tend her. During these weeks she gave no
sign of improvement mentally, though she constantly gained strength
otherwise, and impressed everybody with the clear light in her eye and
the absence of everything suggestive of gloom in her expression and
language. There was the same complete loss of memory up to the time of
the tragic occurrence which had desolated her home; the same harping at
odd moments on Adelaide's happiness and her own prospect of seeing this
dear sister very soon which had marked the opening days of her
convalescence. But beyond and back of all this was some secret joy,
unintelligible to the nurse, which helped rather than retarded the sick
girl's recovery, and made Carmel appear at times as if she walked on air
and breathed the very breath of Paradise--an anomaly which not only
roused Miss Unwin's curiosity, but led her to regard with something like
apprehension, any change in her patient's state of mind which would rob
her of the strange and unseen delights which fed her secret soul and made
her oblivious of the awful facts awaiting a restored memory.

Meanwhile Carmel was allowed such liberty as her condition required; but
was never left alone for a moment after a certain day when her eye
suddenly took on a strange look of confused inquiry, totally dissociated
with anything she saw or heard. A stir had taken place in her brain, and
her nurse wanted to take her back home. But this awakening--if such it
could be called, was so short in its duration and was followed so
immediately by a string of innocent questions about Adelaide, that Nurse
Unwin concluded to remain a few days longer before risking this
delicately balanced mind amid old scenes and the curious glances of her
townspeople.

Alas! the awakening was to take place in Lakewood and under
circumstances of the most ordinary nature. Carmel had been out and was
just crossing the hall of h