by the
kind of life which he had led, and possessed by nature stamina so
insufficient to resist such debility, that it was very doubtful
whether he would not sink altogether before he could be made to
begin to rise. But one thing was clear. He should be contradicted in
nothing. If he chose to say that the moon was made of green cheese,
let it be conceded to him that the moon was made of green cheese.
Should he make any other assertion equally removed from the truth,
let it not be contradicted. Who would oppose a man with one foot in
the grave?

"Then, Hugh, the sooner I am at Monkhams the better," said Nora, who
had again been subjected to inuendoes which had been unendurable to
her. This was on the 7th of August, and it still wanted three days to
that on which the journey to Monkhams was to be made.

"He never says anything to me on the subject," said Hugh.

"Because you have made him afraid of you. I almost think that Emily
and the doctor are wrong in their treatment, and that it would be
better to stand up to him and tell him the truth." But the three days
passed away, and Nora was not driven to any such vindication of her
sister's character towards her sister's husband.

CHAPTER XCVI.

MONKHAMS.

[Illustration]

On the 10th of August Nora Rowley left the cottage by the river-side
at Twickenham, and went down to Monkhams. The reader need hardly be
told that Hugh brought her up from Twickenham and sent her off in the
railway carriage. They agreed that no day could be fixed for their
marriage till something further should be known of Trevelyan's state.
While he was in his present condition such a marriage could not have
been other than very sad. Nora, when she left the cottage, was still
very bitter against her brother-in-law, quoting the doctor's opinion
as to his sanity, and expressing her own as to his conduct under that
supposition. She also believed that he would rally in health, and was
therefore, on that account, less inclined to pity him than was his
wife. Emily Trevelyan of course saw more of him than did her sister,
and understood better how possible it was that a man might be in such
a condition as to be neither mad nor sane;--not mad, so that all
power over his own actions need be taken from him; nor sane, so
that he must be held to be accountable for his words and thoughts.
Trevelyan did nothing, and attempted to do nothing, that could injure
his wife and child. He submitted himself t