brim and a Récamier crown, with a funny bright-blue feather stuck through the band.”
“Stop,” commanded Hare. “Now that you’ve remembered the hat, can’t you make another effort and put a face under it?”
He was so delighted with the result of his experiment that his dejection was ludicrous when Iris shook her head in the old provoking manner.
“No, I can’t remember any face. You see, I had such a frantic headache.”
“Exactly,” commented the professor dryly. “Cause and effect, I’m afraid. The doctor has been telling us that you had a slight sunstroke.”
As though awaiting his cue the doctor—who had been listening intently—spoke to Iris.
“That blow of the sun explains all,” he said, speaking in English, with slow emphasis. “It has given you a delirium. You saw some one who is not there. Afterwards, you went to sleep, and you dream. Then, presently, you awake and you are much better. So you saw Miss Froy no more. She is nothing but a delirium—a dream.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM
At first Iris was too surprised to protest. She had the bewildered sensation of being the one sane person in a mad world. Her astonishment turned to indignation when the professor caught Hare’s eye and gave a nod of mutual understanding.
Then he spoke to Iris in a formal voice.
“I think we may accept that as final. If I had known the circumstances I should not have intervened. I hope you will soon feel better.”
“We’d better clear and let Miss Carr get some quiet,” suggested Hare, with a doubtful grin.
Iris felt as though she were being smothered with featherbed opposition. Controlling her anger she forced herself to speak calmly.
“I’m afraid it’s not so simple as that. As far as I’m concerned the matter’s by no means ended. Why should you imagine I’m telling a lie?”
“I do not,” the professor assured her. “I am convinced it is your mistake. But, since you’ve raised the point of fairness, you must admit that the weight of evidence is against you, I have to be fair. Can
you
explain why six persons should He?”
Iris had a sudden flash of intuition.
“I can’t,” she said, “unless one person started the lie, and the others are backing her up. In that case it’s only her word against mine. And as I’m English and you’re English and this concerns an Englishwoman, it’s your duty to believe
me
.”
As she spoke Iris challenged the baroness in an accusing stare. Although the personage heard the charge with complete composure, the professor coughed in protest.
“You mustn’t confuse patriotism with prejudice,” he said. “Besides your insinuation is absurd. What motive would the baroness have for telling a lie?”
Iris’ brain began to swim.
“I don’t know,” she said weakly. “It’s all such a mystery. No one could want to injure Miss Froy. She’s too insignificant. Besides, she was proud of having no enemies. And she told me herself that the baroness had been kind.”
“What have I done?” asked the baroness blandly.
“She said that there was a muddle about her place and you paid the excess-fare for her to travel in here.”
“That was charming of me. I’m gratified to hear of my generosity. Unfortunately I know nothing of it. But the ticket-collector should be able to refresh my memory.”
The professor turned to Iris dutifully.
“What am I to do?” he asked. “You are making things rather difficult by persisting in this attitude. But, if you insist, I will question the man.”
“I’ll dig him out,” offered Hare.
Iris knew that he wanted a chance to escape. She felt that his sympathies were with her while he withheld his faith.
After he had gone the professor began to talk to the baroness and the doctor, presumably for the sake of further practice. Suspicious of every glance and inflection, Iris believed that he was explaining the delicacy of his position and stressing the absurdity of the charge, for the baroness
“Stop,” commanded Hare. “Now that you’ve remembered the hat, can’t you make another effort and put a face under it?”
He was so delighted with the result of his experiment that his dejection was ludicrous when Iris shook her head in the old provoking manner.
“No, I can’t remember any face. You see, I had such a frantic headache.”
“Exactly,” commented the professor dryly. “Cause and effect, I’m afraid. The doctor has been telling us that you had a slight sunstroke.”
As though awaiting his cue the doctor—who had been listening intently—spoke to Iris.
“That blow of the sun explains all,” he said, speaking in English, with slow emphasis. “It has given you a delirium. You saw some one who is not there. Afterwards, you went to sleep, and you dream. Then, presently, you awake and you are much better. So you saw Miss Froy no more. She is nothing but a delirium—a dream.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM
At first Iris was too surprised to protest. She had the bewildered sensation of being the one sane person in a mad world. Her astonishment turned to indignation when the professor caught Hare’s eye and gave a nod of mutual understanding.
Then he spoke to Iris in a formal voice.
“I think we may accept that as final. If I had known the circumstances I should not have intervened. I hope you will soon feel better.”
“We’d better clear and let Miss Carr get some quiet,” suggested Hare, with a doubtful grin.
Iris felt as though she were being smothered with featherbed opposition. Controlling her anger she forced herself to speak calmly.
“I’m afraid it’s not so simple as that. As far as I’m concerned the matter’s by no means ended. Why should you imagine I’m telling a lie?”
“I do not,” the professor assured her. “I am convinced it is your mistake. But, since you’ve raised the point of fairness, you must admit that the weight of evidence is against you, I have to be fair. Can
you
explain why six persons should He?”
Iris had a sudden flash of intuition.
“I can’t,” she said, “unless one person started the lie, and the others are backing her up. In that case it’s only her word against mine. And as I’m English and you’re English and this concerns an Englishwoman, it’s your duty to believe
me
.”
As she spoke Iris challenged the baroness in an accusing stare. Although the personage heard the charge with complete composure, the professor coughed in protest.
“You mustn’t confuse patriotism with prejudice,” he said. “Besides your insinuation is absurd. What motive would the baroness have for telling a lie?”
Iris’ brain began to swim.
“I don’t know,” she said weakly. “It’s all such a mystery. No one could want to injure Miss Froy. She’s too insignificant. Besides, she was proud of having no enemies. And she told me herself that the baroness had been kind.”
“What have I done?” asked the baroness blandly.
“She said that there was a muddle about her place and you paid the excess-fare for her to travel in here.”
“That was charming of me. I’m gratified to hear of my generosity. Unfortunately I know nothing of it. But the ticket-collector should be able to refresh my memory.”
The professor turned to Iris dutifully.
“What am I to do?” he asked. “You are making things rather difficult by persisting in this attitude. But, if you insist, I will question the man.”
“I’ll dig him out,” offered Hare.
Iris knew that he wanted a chance to escape. She felt that his sympathies were with her while he withheld his faith.
After he had gone the professor began to talk to the baroness and the doctor, presumably for the sake of further practice. Suspicious of every glance and inflection, Iris believed that he was explaining the delicacy of his position and stressing the absurdity of the charge, for the baroness
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