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MOVING ON.103grateful to him for the kindness with whichhe watched George, she was happier stfll in hiscompany.To a person of quicker perception than Mr.'Carruthers, the fact that the invalid never spokeof her faithful old servant would have hadmuchsignificance.Itwould have implied that she hadmoreentirely lost her memory than other featuresand circumstances of her condition indicated, orthat she had regained sufficient mental firmnessand self-control to avoid anything leading directlyor indirectly to the origin and source of a state ofmental yveakness of which she was distressinglyconscious. But Mr. Carruthers lacked quicknessand experience, and he did not notice this. Hehad pondered in his stately way,overDr.Merle'swords, and he hadbecome convinced that he musthave been right. There hacl been a "shock."But of yvhat nature? How, when, had it occurred?Clearly, these questions could not now,probably could not ever be, referred toMrs. Carruthers.Who could tell him? Clare? Haclanything occurred yvhile he had been absentduring the days immediately preceding his wife's