The Allen House | Page 3

a very bad night for a lady to come out. I hope no one is seriously
ill."
"I wish you would come over and see our Henry, Doctor."
There was a choking tremor in her voice; and as I looked in her face, I
saw that it was pale and distressed.
"What's the matter?" I inquired.
"I can't say what it is, Doctor. Something's wrong. I'm afraid--yes, I'm
afraid he's going out of his senses."
And she wrung her hands together with a nervous uneasiness in
singular contrast with her usual quiet exterior.
"How is he affected?"
"Well, Doctor, he came home last evening looking as white as a sheet. I
almost screamed out when I saw the strange, suffering expression on
his colorless face. My first thought was that he had fallen somewhere,
and been hurt dreadfully. He tried to pass me without stopping; but I
put both hands on him, and said--'Oh, Henry! what does ail you?'
'Nothing of any account,' he answered, in a low, husky tone. 'I don't feel
right well, and am going to my room to lie down.' And saying this, he
brushed right past me, and went up stairs. I followed after him, but
when I tried his door it was fastened on the inside. I called three times
before he answered, and then he said--'Mother, I'm not sick; but I feel

bad and want to be alone. Please don't disturb me to-night.' I don't think
I would have known the voice if it hadn't been just then and there.
Knowing his disposition, anxious and troubled as I was, I felt that it
would be best for the time being to let him alone. And I did so. For an
hour or more all in his room was as still as death, and I began to grow
very uneasy. Then I heard his feet upon the floor moving about. I heard
him walk to his bureau--my ears served me for eyes--then to the
mantlepiece, and then to the window. All was still again for some
minutes. My heart beat like a hammer, as one vague suggestion after
another floated through my mind. Then he crossed the room with a
slow step; turned and went back again; and so kept on walking to and
fro. I listened, waiting for the sound to cease; nut he walked on and on,
backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards, tramp, tramp, tramp,
until it seemed as if every jarring footfall was on my heart. Oh, Doctor!
I never had anything to affect me so before in my whole life. An hour
passed, and still he walked the floor of his room. I could bear it no
longer, and went and called to him. But he seemed deaf, and made no
reply. I rattled at the lock and called again and again. Then he came
close to the door, and said, speaking a little impatiently for him--
'Mother! Mother! For Heaven's sake don't trouble me! I don't feel just
right, and you must let me alone for the present.'
"Well, he kept on walking for an hour longer, and then everything was
still in his room for the night. This morning on trying his door it was
unfastened. I went in. He was lying in bed wide awake. But, oh! such a
change as I saw in his face. It was colorless as on the evening before;
but less expressive of emotion. A dead calm seemed to have settled
upon it. I took his hand; it was cold. I pressed his forehead; it was cold
also. 'Henry, my son, how are you?' I asked. He did not reply; but
looked in my face with a cold, steady gaze that chilled me. 'Are you
sick, my son?' He merely shook his head slowly. 'Has anything
happened? What has happened?' I pressed my question upon him; but it
was of no use. He would not satisfy me. I then asked if he would not
rise. 'Not yet,' he said. 'Shall I bring you some breakfast?' 'No--no--I
cannot eat.' And he shook his head and shut his eyes, while there came
into his face a look so sad and suffering that as I gazed on him I could

not keep the tears back.
"And it has been no better with him all the day, Doctor," added Mrs.
Wallingford, heaving a long sigh. "Oh, I am distressed to death about it.
Won't you come and see him? I'm afraid if something isn't done that he
will lose his senses."
"Have you no conjecture as to the cause of this strange condition of
mind?" I asked.
"None," she replied. "Henry is a reserved young man, you know,
Doctor; and keeps many things hidden in his mind even from me that
should be outspoken."
"Has he no