Round the Red Lamp

the terra-cotta busts of Claude Bernard and of John Hunter upon the dining-room mantelpiece had rung out the half-hour and

nown him a second behind his time. She sat now in front of the high silver coffee-pot, uncertain whether to order the gong t

reasonable, thoughtful forehead, and a dash of absolute obstinacy in her thin lips and prominent chin. Snow white cuffs and collar, with a plain dark dress, cut with almost Quaker-like simplicity, bespoke the primness of h

g sound of heavy feet upon thick carpet. The door swung open, and the Professor entered with a quick, nervous step. He nodded to

than his sister. His career had been a brilliant one. At Edinburgh, at Cambridge, and at Vi

es. He had been referred to by one of the greatest living authorities as being the very type and embodiment of all that was best in modern science. No wonder, then, that when the commercial city of Birchespool decided to create a medical school, they were on

forehead. His lips, however, were firmer, and his long, thin, lower jaw was sharper and more

he remarked, as a clack of t

his sister; "I sha

ing at her own, glancing furtively through her n

nt of their left frontal convolutions, they attained the power of speech. Their second advan

rward, but as he ceased he had a trick of suddenly opening

ulous, John,"

ects you approach the

e who utters a courtly compliment; but the lady pouted

orning, John," she re

ion, no doubt due to over-stimulation of the centers o

s regular as his habits. Twelve years' continual intercourse had taught her that he lived in a serene

sed myself if I had been told that I was so sensitive to vascular influences. For, after all,

ried Ada Grey, layin

of receptivity very remarkably developed

e. She is really only an acquaintance, although she is staying at The

w at arriving at conclusions, but having once formed them, it is not prone to change. Matrimony is the natural condition of the human race. I have, as you know, been so engaged in academical an

u are e

to submit to the common lot of humanity. I shall wait upon her after my morning lect

e. She even stammered out some few words of congratulation, but a vacant loo

much is at stake, and because the thing is so sudden, so unexpected." Her thin white hand stole up to the black c

he suggestion away wi

not argue upon it. You assume more than I can grant. I am

ster s

no faith,"

ry forces which are leading the human r

ieve in

Ada, I believe in the diff

one subject upon which she ventured t

ng up his napkin. "If I am not mistaken, there is some possibility

shot a twinkle at his sister. She sat very stiff, an

'Brien--" said the P

on't!" cried Mi

y. He is my first and my most distinguished pupil. I assure you, Ada, that his 'Remarks upon the Bile-Pigments, with special refe

t head and flushed cheeks. The little ebony cr

burgh, and in two months' time, he goes out to take over his new duties. You know his feeling towards you. It, rests with you as to whether he goes out alone. Speaking for myself, I cannot imagine any

ken to me," mur

e. Your vasomotor system is excited. Your arterioles have contracted. Let me entreat you to compose yourself.

and within a few minutes he was rattling in his quiet, well-ap

a microtome, and finally resolved the difficulties of seven different gentlemen, who were pursuing researches in as many separate lines of inquiry. Having thus conscientiously and methodically completed the routine of his duti

the privacy of its own grounds. A winding path, lined with laurel bushes, led to the arched and porticoed entrance. To the right was a lawn, and at the far side, under the shadow of a hawthor

Esdaile?" she asked, sweeping out fr

ng, while the other pressed a thick, green-covered volume against her side. Her decision and quick, tactful manner bespoke the mature woman of the world; but her upraised face had preserved a girlish and even infantile

repeated, glancing up at him with eyes which had i

answered, with no relaxation of his col

just the slightest little touch of brogue in her accen

cannot wonder that Eastern people should have made a deity of the sun. It is the great beneficent forc

Matter a

raised his t

then again in a kin

from him?"

e highest plane of modern thought differs from him. He defends the indefensible. He is an excellen

teract his pernicious influence," said

n which Professor Ainslie Grey had enforced th

it. I would rather refer you to the standard writing

ey paced up and down on the green, ve

ked at last, "of the matter upon

d by his side with her eyes

n my own case, it cost me some thought before I ventured to make the suggestion. I am not an emotional man, but I a

en?" she asked, with a t

forc

ou can den

sub judice," said the Professor, with an air of toleration. "Protop

exclaimed; "you would draw lov

cs up to the l

r sympathetic laugh. "That is really very prett

chin with the pretty, wilful air of a

few hundreds from my books. I should therefore be in a position to provide you with those comforts to which you are accustomed. So much for my pecuniary position. As to my constitution, it has always been sound. I have never suffered from any illness in m

mes looke

ry serious?

," said the

It sounded much

id these facts before you because they are factors which cannot be overlooked in for

nd looked earnestly and

the lawn, and her fingers played nervously with her chatelain. Suddenly, with a sharp, quick ges

pt," sh

the hawthorn. He stooped gravely down

ver have cause to regret

er may," she cried, w

yes, and her lips twitche

le congestion of the medulla and pons. It is always instructive to reduce psychic or emotional condition

nromantic," said Mrs. O'Ja

f ignorance. Where science throws her calm, cl

love romance

c elementary forces. When the atom of hydrogen draws the atom of chlorine towards it to form the perfected molecule of hydrochloric acid, the force whi

d lady came sweeping across the lawn in their direction. "So

little pomposity of manner. "You were very wise to

y fine weather," the

holding up one finger. "It is Nature's lullaby. Could you not

not occurred

rapport with the deeper meanings of nature. Shall I say a want of imagin

m not conscious of

of that background of lea

," murmured

the great things in its attention to the little ones. You have a poor opinio

shrugging his shoulders. "The female cerebrum averages two ounces less in we

James, laughing. "Isn't there a law of compensation in science? Ma

your luncheon-gong. No, thank you, Mrs. Esdaile, I cannot st

stalked slowly away am

said Mrs. Esdaile-"

d, with a saucy little jerk of the chin

was somewhat sallow in the face, with dark, beady eyes, and a short, black beard with an aggressive bristle. Thought and work

y," he cried. "I

y," said the Professor; "you mu

ssor led the way into his private sanctum.

my sister Ada; but I have given her to understand that there is no one whom I should prefer for a brother-in-law t

ys been very kind," said the other. "I approache

id Yes,

my return from Edinburgh. I go to-day, as you kno

rdo O'Brien," said the Professor, sonorously. "It is a glorious subj

with a sudden little spurt of Celtic enthusi

appendix--" beg

"I fear that it is my advocacy of scientific freedom

. You must be true to your conviction

feelings at the old church at home between the scent of the incense and the roll o

his chin. "Vague hereditary tendencies stirred into li

efore I enter your family, your sister and you have a claim to know all that I can tell you about my career. Of my wo

or raised h

ews indeed

ralia. Miss Thurston was her name. I met he

atures quivered, and his white hands tightened upon the arms

ked "but I should not think that i

t she was open to flattery, and liable to be misled by designing persons. She was untrue to me, Grey. It is a hard thing to say of the dead, but she was

with a deprecatory motion of his hand. "I cannot see,

chair; "I have told you all that there is to tell. I should

te. But you are not to blame in the matter, save that perhaps you showed a

his hand ac

"God help me, I love he

l lunch

to do. I have already bade Miss Grey adi

ably find me a

rri

e been thin

ratulate you with all my heart.

matters of importance, I should be very happy to see the proofs of your paper upon the

m, and the two men parted in the hall. The Professor walked back into th

ar's," he remarked; "I should stro

ble, and went off to Cambridge together, where the Professor and his charming wife were present at several academic observances, and varied the routine of their honeymoon by incursions into biological laboratories and medical libraries. Scientific friends were loud in their congratulations, not only upon Mrs. Grey's beauty, but upon the unusual

to appear in his lecture-room at the very stroke of the hour. Miss Ada Grey welcomed them with a constrained cordiality, and handed over the keys of office to the new mistress. Mrs. Grey

sat revising his morning lecture. It announced the re-arrival of Dr. James M'Murdo O'Brien. Their meeti

e been changes," s

e notice in the British Medical Journal. So it's really marr

fe is a sensible woman-I may even go the length of saying that, for a woman, she i

esearch on

d it, but I have resumed my classes, and

rresponded, and I think that all will be well. She must

ssor shoo

said. "Questions of this sort are, after all,

en sm

id. "Either my brain is too small or my heart is too big. But when may I

the morning-room. She will be g

s sitting in a basket-chair by the window, light and fairy-like in a loose-flowing, pink morning-gown. Seeing a visitor, she rose and swep

he gasped

had been struck out, save one of astonishment and horror. Then with a sharp intaking of the breat

s sofa,"

dead look upon her face. The Professor stood with his back t

st, "you have already made t

oarsely. "She is no wife of you

thin fingers were intertwined, and his head sunk a littl

y!" s

am

do it? I thought you were dead. I mourned for your death-ay, and

ack among her cushions with h

you no

VE treated you cruelly-shamefully.

d with D

could not face you. I took passage alone to England under a new name, and here I have lived ever since. It seemed to me that I was beginning l

nd gave a gas

culation." He flattened down the cushion. "I am sorry to leave you, O'Brien; but

's humanity. The lecture over, he performed his routine duties in the laboratory, and then drove back to his own house. He did not enter by the front door, but passed through the garden to the folding glass casement which led out of the morning-room. As he approached he heard his wife

you from the bottom of my heart. I love you, and I have

I have always been yours. I thought that it wa

re shall be no scandal. If, on the other hand, you come with me, it's little I care about the world's

cooing, caressing laug

ith you, Jame

e Profe

he will not mind much,

ll him our

the open casement. "I have overheard the latter part of your conver

her with the sunshine on their faces. The Professor paused at the casement

. "Go back to Australia together, and let w

u--" stamme

ssor wave

ble about m

gave a g

back again, with all its hopes and its desires. What can I say to you, Ainslie? I have brought shame and disgrace upo

g the life-work of a man who has shown himself capable of the highest order of scientific research. I cannot with justice blame you personally for what has occurre

t. O'Brien had stepped forward to say something, but the other's attitude and manner froze the words upon his lips. Condolence o

brougham stands at the door. I beg that you will use it as your own. Perhaps it would be as well t

tated with a

offer you my

hree of us you come best out of the aff

sist

its true light. Good-bye! Let me have a copy

od-

ime the woman's intuition cast a light for itself into the dark places of a strong man's soul. She gave a lit

. "Don't you see that he

r quietly aw

allisneria. The brougham is there. Your cloak is in the hall. Tell John

osed the door behind them and paced slowly up and down the room. Then he passed into the library and looked out over the wire blind. The carriage was r

steps towards the door. Then he turned, and throwing hi

y. His marriage had been so quiet that most of his colleagues had never ceased to regard him as a bachelor. Mrs. Esdaile and a few

rish energy. It was no uncommon thing for his servants, when they came down of a morning, to hear the shrill scratchings of his tireless pen, or to meet him on the staircase as he ascen

nd more pronounced. There were deep lines about his temples and across his brow. His cheek was sunken and his complexion bloodless.

ted over his case without being able to give a name to the affection from which he suffered. A steadily decreasing vitality appeared to be the only symptom-a bodily weakness which left the mind unclouded. He was much interested himself in his own case, and made notes of his subjective sensations as

ly and softly he sank into his eternal sleep. His two physicians felt

t to give it a

said t

said that he had died from some sudden nervous shock-fr

r Grey was that so

diac, anyhow," said

d so.