The climax was brought about, however, when one July day after a short
visit to one of the summer resorts, Angela was taken ill. She had always
been subject to colds and sore throats, and these peculiar signs, which
are associated by medical men with latent rheumatism, finally culminated
in this complaint. Angela had also been pronounced to have a weak heart,
and this combined with a sudden, severe rheumatic attack completely
prostrated her. A trained nurse had to be called, and Angela's sister
Marietta was sent for. Eugene's sister Myrtle, who now lived in New
York, was asked by him to come over and take charge, and under her
supervision, pending Marietta's arrival, his household went forward
smoothly enough. The former, being a full-fledged Christian Scientist,
having been instantly cured, as she asserted, of a long-standing nervous
complaint, was for calling a Christian Science practitioner, but Eugene
would have none of it. He could not believe that there was anything in
this new religious theory, and thought Angela needed a doctor. He sent
for a specialist in her complaint. He pronounced that six weeks at the
least, perhaps two months, must elapse before Angela would be able to
sit up again.

"Her system is full of rheumatism," said her physician. "She is in a
very bad way. Rest and quiet, and constant medication will bring her
round."

Eugene was sorry. He did not want to see her suffer, but her sickness
did not for one minute alter his mental attitude. In fact, he did not
see how it could. It did not change their relative mental outlook in any
way. Their peculiar relationship of guardian and restless ward was quite
unaffected.

All social functions of every kind were now abandoned and Eugene stayed
at home every evening, curious to see what the outcome would be. He
wanted to see how the trained nurse did her work and what the doctor
thought would be the next step. He had a great deal to do at all times,
reading, consulting, and many of those who wished to confer with him
came to the apartment of an evening. All those who knew them socially at
all intimately called or sent messages of condolence, and among those
who came were Mrs. Dale and Suzanne. The former because Eugene had been
so nice to her in a publishing way and was shortly going to bring out
her first attempt at a novel was most assiduous. She sent flowers and
came often, proffering the services of Suzanne for any day that the
nurse might wish to