"
Another day she told me how much Mrs. Blake had done for me, nursing me
with a skill and patience that drew high praise from the dignified city
physician accustomed to skilled nurses. Mr. Winthrop used to come and go,
watching her closely, and one day he said:--
"No matter what happens, Mrs. Blake's future will be attended to."
Then I asked the question that had been troubling me ever since I had
been getting better.
"Why do I never see or hear anything from Mr. Winthrop? you say he has
forgiven me; but he has not so much as sent me a message, or flower
since I came to myself."
"Why, Medoline, did you not know?"
"Know what?" I asked, interrupting her, "has he gone away with Mrs. Le
Grande?" I had forgotten for the moment that Mrs. Le Grande was even
weaker than myself.
"Oh, no, indeed; marriage has been one of her least anxieties of late.
Mr. Winthrop is in London before this: I am looking for letters now every
day."
"Has he gone to Europe?"
"Yes; I thought of course you knew; he left the very day the doctor
pronounced you out of danger."
"Did you know he thought of going?"
"No, we were greatly surprised; I cannot think why he left so abruptly."
"Perhaps he was afraid of Mrs. Le Grande. He knows how fascinating she
can be when she chooses."
"I do not think she had anything to do with it. She was perfectly
harmless when he left, in the delirium of fever, with two physicians in
attendance."
I was not convinced by Mrs. Flaxman's words, but said no more on the
subject.
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