Of course, some of those already drawn into the vortex noticed the effect on individuals.  Those who were interested took care to compare their information.  Strangely enough, as it seemed to the others, the person who took the ghastly silence least to heart was the negro.  By nature he was not sensitive to, or afflicted by, nerves.  This alone would not have produced the seeming indifference, so they set their minds to discover the real cause.  Adam came quickly to the conclusion that there was for him some compensation that the others did not share; and he soon believed that that compensation was in one form or another the enjoyment of the sufferings of others.  Thus the black had a never-failing source of amusement.

Lady Arabella’s cold nature rendered her immune to anything in the way of pain or trouble concerning others.  Edgar Caswall was far too haughty a person, and too stern of nature, to concern himself about poor or helpless people, much less the lower order of mere animals.  Mr. Watford, Mr. Salton, and Sir Nathaniel were all concerned in the issue, partly from kindness of heart—­for none of them could see suffering, even of wild birds, unmoved—­and partly on account of their property, which had to be protected, or ruin would stare them in the face before long.

Lilla suffered acutely.  As time went on, her face became pinched, and her eyes dull with watching and crying.  Mimi suffered too on account of her cousin’s suffering.  But as she could do nothing, she resolutely made up her mind to self-restraint and patience.  Adam’s frequent visits comforted her.

CHAPTER XI—­MESMER’S CHEST

After a couple of weeks had passed, the kite seemed to give Edgar Caswall a new zest for life.  He was never tired of looking at its movements.  He had a comfortable armchair put out on the tower, wherein he sat sometimes all day long, watching as though the kite was a new toy and he a child lately come into possession of it.  He did not seem to have lost interest in Lilla, for he still paid an occasional visit at Mercy Farm.

Indeed, his feeling towards her, whatever it had been at first, had now so far changed that it had become a distinct affection of a purely animal kind.  Indeed, it seemed as though the man’s nature had become corrupted, and that all the baser and more selfish and more reckless qualities had become more conspicuous.  There was not so much sternness apparent in his nature, because there was less self-restraint.  Determination had become indifference.

The visible change in Edgar was that he grew morbid, sad, silent; the neighbours thought he was going mad.  He became absorbed in the kite, and watched it not only by day, but often all night long.  It became an obsession to him.