Capitola The Madcap | Page 3

Doctor Williams.

As for Clara, her face, previously blanched with grief, was now flushed
with indignation. In her sudden distress and perplexity she knew not at
once what to do--whether to utter a protest or continue silent; whether
to leave the room or remain. Her embarrassment was perceived by
Traverse, who, stooping, whispered to her:
"Be calm, love; all shall be well. Doctor Williams is about to speak."
And at that moment, indeed, Doctor Williams arose and said:
"I have, Colonel Le Noir to endorse a dying message from Doctor Day
entrusted to my young friend here to be delivered to you, to the effect
that it was his last desire and request that his daughter, Miss Clara Day,
should be permitted to reside during the term of her minority in this her
patrimonial home, under the care of her present matronly friend, Mrs.
Marah Rocke, Doctor Rocke and myself are here to bear testimony to
these, the last wishes of the departed, which wishes, I believe, also
express the desires of his heiress."
"Oh, yes, yes!" said Clara, earnestly. "I do very much desire to remain
in my own home, among my old familiar friends. My dear father only
consulted my comfort and happiness when he left these instructions."
"There can be, therefore, no reason why Miss Day should be disturbed
in her present home," said Traverse.
Colonel Le Noir smiled grimly, saying:
"I am sorry, Doctor Williams, to differ with you or to distress Miss Day.
But if, as she says, her lamented father consulted her pleasure in those
last instructions, he certainly consulted nothing else--not the proprieties
of conventionalism, the opinion of the world, nor the future welfare of
his daughter. Therefore, as a man of Doctor Day's high position and
character in his sane moments never could have made such a singular
arrangement, I am forced to the conclusion that he could not, at the
time of giving those instructions, have been in his right mind.
Consequently, I cannot venture to act upon any 'verbal instructions,'
however well attested, but shall be guided in every respect by the will,

executed while yet the testator was in sound body and mind."
"Doctor Rocke and myself are both physicians competent to certify that,
at the time of leaving these directions, our respected friend was
perfectly sound in mind at least," said Doctor Williams.
"That, sir, I repeat, I contest. And, acting upon the authority of the will,
I shall proceed to take charge of my ward as well as of her estate. And
as I think this house, under all the circumstances, a very improper place
for her to remain, I shall convey her without delay to my own home.
Mrs. Rocke, I believe I requested you to see to the packing of Miss
Day's trunks."
"Oh, heaven! shall this wrong be permitted?" ejaculated Marah.
"Mrs. Rocke, I will not go unless absolutely forced to do so by a decree
of the court. I shall get Doctor Williams to make an appeal for me to
the Orphans' Court," said Clara, by way of encouraging her friend.
"My dear Miss Day, that, I hope, will not be required. Colonel Le Noir
acts under a misapprehension of the circumstances. We must enter into
more explanations with him, In the mean time, my dear young lady, it
is better that you should obey him for the present, at least so far as
retiring from the room," said Doctor Williams.
Clara immediately rose and, requesting Mrs. Rocke to accompany her,
withdrew from the library.
Doctor Williams then said;
"I advised the retirement of the young lady, having a communication to
make the hearing of which in a mixed company might have cost her an
innocent blush. But first I would ask you, Colonel Le Noir, what are
those circumstances to which you allude which render Miss Day's
residence here, in her patrimonial mansion, with her old and faithful
friends, so improper?" inquired Doctor Williams, courteously.
"The growing intimacy, sir, between herself and a very objectionable

party--this young man Rocke!" replied Colonel Le Noir.
"Ah! and is that all?"
"It is enough, sir," said Colonel Le Noir, loftily.
"Then suppose I should inform you, sir, that this young man, Doctor
Rocke, was brought up and educated at Doctor Day's cost and under his
own immediate eye?"
"Then, sir, you would only inform me that an eccentric gentleman of
fortune had done--what eccentric gentlemen of fortune will sometimes
do--educated a pauper."
At this opprobrious epithet Traverse, with a flushed face, started to his
feet.
"Sit down, my boy, sit down; leave me to deal with this man," said
Doctor Williams, forcing Traverse back into his seat. Then, turning to
Colonel Le Noir, he said:
"But suppose, sir, that such was the estimation in which Doctor Day
held