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〃Hold thy noise； wilt'a？〃 said Michael； roughly； as he passed near
him； and threatening him with his fist。 Susan's back was turned to
the pair。 The expression of Willie's face changed from vacancy to
fear； and he came shambling up to Susan； who put her arm round him；
and； as if protected by that shelter； he began making faces at
Michael。 Susan saw what was going on； and； as if now first struck by
the strangeness of her brother's manner； she looked anxiously at
Michael for an explanation。 Michael was irritated at Willie's
defiance of him； and did not mince the matter。
〃It's just that the fever has left him sillyhe never was as wise as
other folk； and now I doubt if he will ever get right。〃
Susan did not speak； but she went very pale； and her lip quivered。
She looked long and wistfully at Willie's face； as he watched the
motion of the ducks in the great stable…pool。 He laughed softly to
himself every now and then。
〃Willie likes to see the ducks go overhead；〃 said Susan；
instinctively adopting the form of speech she would have used to a
young child。
〃Willie； boo！ Willie； boo！〃 he replied； clapping his hands； and
avoiding her eye。
〃Speak properly； Willie；〃 said Susan； making a strong effort at self…
control； and trying to arrest his attention。
〃You know who I amtell me my name！〃 She grasped his arm almost
painfully tight to make him attend。 Now he looked at her； and； for
an instant； a gleam of recognition quivered over his face； but the
exertion was evidently painful； and he began to cry at the vainness
of the effort to recall her name。 He hid his face upon her shoulder
with the old affectionate trick of manner。 She put him gently away；
and went into the house into her own little bedroom。 She locked the
door； and did not reply at all to Michael's calls for her； hardly
spoke to old Peggy； who tried to tempt her out to receive some homely
sympathy； and through the open easement there still came the idiotic
sound of 〃Willie； boo！ Willie； boo！〃
CHAPTER III。
After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences。
Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece
together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother's
mind。 She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play；
and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again； when
she would resume her self…imposed task。 Michael complained that she
never had a word for him； or a minute of time to spend with him now；
but she only said she must try； while there was yet a chance； to
bring back her brother's lost wits。 As for marriage in this state of
uncertainty； she had no heart to think of it。 Then Michael stormed；
and absented himself for two or three days； but it was of no use。
When he came back； he saw that she had been crying till her eyes were
all swollen up； and he gathered from Peggy's scoldings （which she did
not spare him） that Susan had eaten nothing since he went away。 But
she was as inflexible as ever。
〃Not just yet。 Only not just yet。 And don't say again that I do not
love you；〃 said she； suddenly hiding herself in his arms。
And so matters went on through August。 The crop of oats was gathered
in； the wheat…field was not ready as yet； when one fine day Michael
drove up in a borrowed shandry； and offered to take Willie a ride。
His manner； when Susan asked him where he was going to； was rather
confused； but the answer was straight and clear enough。
He had business in Ambleside。 He would never lose sight of the lad；
and have him back safe and sound before dark。 So Susan let him go。
Before night they were at home again： Willie in high delight at a
little rattling paper windmill that Michael had bought for him in the
street； and striving to imitate this new sound with perpetual
buzzings。 Michael； too； looked pleased。 Susan knew the look；
although afterwards she remembered that he had tried to veil it from
her； and had assumed a grave appearance of sorrow whenever he caught
her eye。 He put up his horse； for； although he had three miles
further to go； the moon was upthe bonny harvest…moonand he did
not care how late he had to drive on such a road by such a light。
After the supper which Susan had prepared for the travellers was
over； Peggy went up…stairs to see Willie safe in bed； for he had to
have the same care taken of him that a little child of four years old
requires。
Michael drew near to Susan。
〃Susan；〃 said he； 〃I took Will to see Dr。 Preston； at Kendal。 He's
the first doctor in the county。 I thought it were better for usfor
youto know at once what chance there were for him。〃
〃Well！〃 said Susan； looking eagerly up。 She saw the same strange
glance of satisfaction； the same instant change to apparent regret
and pain。 〃What did he say？〃 said she。 〃Speak！ can't you？〃
〃He said he would never get better of his weakness。〃
〃Never！〃
〃No； never。 It's a long word； and hard to bear。 And there's worse
to come； dearest。 The doctor thinks he will get badder from year to
year。 And he said； if he was usyouhe would send him off in time
to Lancaster Asylum。 They've ways there both of keeping such people
in order and making them happy。 I only tell you what he said；〃
continued he； seeing the gathering storm in her face。
〃There was no harm in his saying it；〃 she replied； with great self…
constraint； forcing herself to speak coldly instead of angrily。
〃Folk is welcome to their opinions。〃
They sat silent for a minute or two； her breast heaving with
suppressed feeling。
〃He's counted a very clever man；〃 said Michael at length。
〃He may be。 He's none of my clever men； nor am I going to be guided
by him； whatever he may think。 And I don't thank them that went and
took my poor lad to have such harsh notions formed about him。 If I'd
been there； I could have called out the sense that is in him。〃
〃Well！ I'll not say more to…night； Susan。 You're not taking it
rightly； and I'd best be gone； and leave you to think it over。 I'll
not deny they are hard words to hear； but there's sense in them； as I
take it； and I reckon you'll have to come to 'em。 Anyhow； it's a bad
way of thanking me for my pains； and I don't take it well in you；
Susan；〃 said he； getting up； as if offended。
〃Michael； I'm beside myself with sorrow。 Don't blame me if I speak
sharp。 He and me is the only ones； you see。 And mother did so
charge me to have a care of him！ And this is what he's come to； poor
lile chap！〃 She began to cry； and Michael to comfort her with
caresses。
〃Don't；〃 said she。 〃It's no use trying to make me forget poor Willie
is a natural。 I could hate myself for being happy with you； even for
just a little minute。 Go away； and leave me to face it out。〃
〃And you'll think it over； Susan； and remember what the doctor says？〃
〃I can't forget；〃 said she。 She meant she could no