young woman,--girl now, if
you will, but in a very few years certain to come within possible, nay,
not very improbable, matrimonial range of him? That would be pleasant,
wouldn't it? It had happened sometimes, as he knew, that these
magnetizing tricks had led to infatuation on the part of the subjects
of the wonderful influence. So he concluded to be ill and consult the
younger Dr. Hurlbut, and incidentally find out how the land lay.

The next question was, what to be ill with. Some not ungentlemanly
malady, not hereditary, not incurable, not requiring any obvious change
in habits of life. Dyspepsia would answer the purpose well enough: so
Mr. Murray Bradshaw picked up a medical book and read ten minutes or
more for that complaint. At the end of this time he was an accomplished
dyspeptic; for lawyers half learn a thing quicker than the members of
any other profession.

He presented himself with a somewhat forlorn countenance to Dr. Fordyce
Hurlbut, as suffering from some of the less formidable symptoms of
that affection. He got into a very interesting conversation with him,
especially about some nervous feelings which had accompanied his attack
of indigestion. Thence to nervous complaints in general. Thence to the
case of the young lady at The Poplars whom he was attending. The Doctor
talked with a certain reserve, as became his professional relations with
his patient; but it was plain enough that, if this kind of intercourse
went on much longer, it would be liable to end in some emotional
explosion or other, and there was no saying how it would at last turn
out.

Murray Bradshaw was afraid to meddle directly. He knew something more
about the history of Myrtle's adventure than any of his neighbors,
and, among other things, that it had given Mr. Byles Gridley a peculiar
interest in her, of which he could take advantage. He therefore artfully
hinted his fears to the old man, and left his hint to work itself out.

However suspicious Master Gridley was of him and his motives, he thought
it worth while to call up at The Poplars and inquire for himself of the
nurse what was this new relation growing up between the physician and
his young patient.

She imparted her opinion to him in a private conversation with great
freedom. "Sech doin's! sech doin's! The gal's jest as much bewitched as
ever any gal was sence them that was possessed in Scriptur'. And every
day it 's wus and wus. Ef that Doctor don't stop comin', she won't