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When they heard her rise and moan, "If he had only
come back to me mutilated in body, helpless! but this change--"
they believed that she was meeting the disappointment as they
could wish.
Mr. and Mrs. Nichol heard the words also, and while in a measure
compelled to recognize their force, they conveyed a meaning hard
to accept. The appeal upon which so much hope had been built had
failed. In bitterness of soul, the conviction grew stronger that
their once brave, keen-minded son would never be much better than
an idiot.
Then Helen appeared among them as pale, trembling, and overwhelmed
as if she had seen a spectre. In strong reaction from her effort
and blighted hope she was almost in a fainting condition. Her
mother's arms received her and supported her to a lounge; Mrs.
Nichol gave way to bitter weeping; Mr. Kemble wrung the father's
hand in sympathy, and then at his wife's request went for
restoratives. Dr. Barnes closed the sliding-doors and prudently
reassured Nichol: "You have done your best, Captain, and that is
all I asked of you.


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