himself seemed to be at a loss to understand the symptoms
that now presented themselves. A vile sensation of nausea tried my
endurance, and an incomprehensible prostration of strength depressed
my spirits. I felt such a strange reluctance to exert myself that I
actually left it to Mrs. Mozeen to write to my uncle in my name, and say
that I was not yet well enough to visit him. My medical adviser tried
various methods of treatment; my housekeeper administered the prescribed
medicines with unremitting care; but nothing came of it. A physician of
great authority was called into consultation. Being completely puzzled,
he retreated to the last refuge of bewildered doctors. I asked him what
was the matter with me. And he answered: "Suppressed gout."

FIFTH EPOCH.

MIDWAY in the third week, my uncle wrote to me as follows:

"I have been obliged to request your friend Rothsay to bring his visit
to a conclusion. Although he refuses to confess it, I have reason to
believe that he has committed the folly of falling seriously in love
with the young girl at my lodge gate. I have tried remonstrance in vain;
and I write to his father at the same time that I write to you. There
is much more that I might say. I reserve it for the time when I hope to
have the pleasure of seeing you, restored to health."

Two days after the receipt of this alarming letter Rothsay returned to
me.

Ill as I was, I forgot my sufferings the moment I looked at him. Wild
and haggard, he stared at me with bloodshot eyes like a man demented.

"Do you think I am mad? I dare say I am. I can't live without her."
Those were the first words he said when we shook hands.

But I had more influence over him than any other person; and, weak as I
was, I exerted it. Little by little, he became more reasonable; he began
to speak like his old self again.

To have expressed any surprise, on my part, at what had happened, would
have been not only imprudent, but unworthy of him and of me. My first
inquiry was suggested by the fear that he might have been hurried into
openly confessing his passion to Susan--although his position forbade
him to offer marriage. I had done him an injustice. His honorable nature
had shrunk from the cruelty of raising hopes, which, for all he knew
to the contrary, might never be realized. At the same time, he had his
reasons for believing that he was at least personally acceptable to her.

"She was always glad to see me," said poor Rothsay