And this intoxication is
leading him to excesses. It is my firm belief that he intends to drag
Julian down into intolerable abysses of sin, to plunge him into utter
ruin, to bring him perhaps to prison, and to death."
Cuckoo was listening now with a white face--even her lips looked almost
grey. The sunshine still lay over the winter world. The horses trotted.
The sables were warm about her. They had nearly left the city behind
them and were gaining the heights, on which the air was keener and more
life-giving, and from which the outlook was larger and more inspiring.
But the girl's gaiety and almost wild sense of vivacity and protectedness
had vanished. For the doctor's face and voice had become grave, and his
words were weighty with a conviction, which, added to her own knowledge
of Julian and Valentine, made her fears unutterable. As the doctor paused
she opened her lips as if to speak, but she said nothing. He could not
but perceive the cloud that had settled on her, and his manner quickly
changed. A brightness, a hopefulness, illumined his face, and he said
quickly:
"This tragedy is what you and I, but you especially, must prevent."
Then Cuckoo spoke at last:
"How ever?" she said.
"Remember this," he answered.
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