generous way. "Why, Mina, you talk as if you were going to leave
us!" I started up, and went to the window, opening it and
complaining of the heat, and so concealing from him that he had
unconsciously anticipated the event that was indeed to come. When
I returned to my chair, he helped me to recover myself by
alluding once more to his wife. He feared that her health was in
some way impaired. In the time when they had first met, she was
subject to nervous maladies, having their origin in a "calamity"
which was never mentioned by either of them in later days. She
might possibly be suffering again, from some other form of
nervous derangement, and he seriously thought of persuading her
to send for medical advice.

Under ordinary circumstances, this vague reference to a
"calamity" would not have excited any special interest in me. But
my mind was now in a state of morbid suspicion. I had not heard
how long my uncle and aunt had been married; but I remembered
that Michael had described himself as being twenty-six years old.
Bearing these circumstances in mind, it struck me that I might be
acting wisely (in Michael's interest) if I persuaded the General
to speak further of what had happened, at the time when he met
the woman whom an evil destiny had bestowed on him for a wife.
Nothing but the consideration of serving the man I loved would
have reconciled me to making my own secret use of the
recollections which my uncle might innocently confide to me. As
it was, I thought the means would, in this case, be for once
justified by the end. Before we part, I have little doubt that
you will think so too.

I found it an easier task than I had anticipated to turn the talk