ought, perhaps, rather to say—­were interested in the young woman, I determined to take the very earliest opportunity of seeing her, and consulting with her medical attendant.  I could not get to her till late in the afternoon.  When I arrived, I found her suffering from one of the worst attacks of Typhus I ever remember to have seen; and I think it my duty to state candidly, that I believe her life to be in imminent danger.  At the same time, it is right to inform you that the gentleman in attendance on her does not share my opinion:  he still thinks there is a good chance of saving her.

“There can be no doubt whatever, that she was infected with Typhus at the hospital.  You may remember my telling you, how her agitation appeared to have deprived her of self-possession, when she entered the ward; and how she ran to the wrong bed, before the nurse could stop her.  The man whom she thus mistook for Turner, was suffering from fever which had not then specifically declared itself; but which did so declare itself, as a Typhus fever, on the morning when you and your brother came to the hospital.  This man’s disorder must have been infectious when the young woman stooped down close over him, under the impression that he was the person she had come to see.  Although she started back at once, on discovering her mistake, she had breathed the infection into her system—­her mental agitation at the time, accompanied (as I have since understood) by some physical weakness, rendering her specially liable to the danger to which she had accidentally exposed herself.

“Since the first symptoms of her disease appeared, on Saturday last, I cannot find that any error has been committed in the medical treatment, as reported to me.  I remained some time by her bedside to-day, observing her.  The delirium which is, more or less, an invariable result of Typhus, is particularly marked in her case, and manifests itself both by speech and gesture.  It has been found impossible to quiet her, by any means hitherto tried.  While I was watching by her, she never ceased calling on your name, and entreating to see you.  I am informed by her medical attendant, that her wanderings have almost invariably taken this direction for the last four-and-twenty hours.  Occasionally she mixes other names with yours, and mentions them in terms of abhorrence; but her persistency in calling for your presence, is so remarkable that I am tempted, merely from what I have heard myself; to suggest that you really should go to her, on the bare chance that you might exercise some tranquillising influence.  At the same time, if you fear infection, or for any private reasons (into which I have neither the right nor the wish to inquire) feel unwilling to take the course I have pointed out, do not by any means consider it your duty to accede to my proposal.  I can conscientiously assure you that duty is not involved in it.