The mind, imbued with suspicion, contemplates everything in a distorted
light. Victor Carrington was especially attentive to the mistress of
the castle. It was not that he talked to her, or usurped more of her
society than his position warranted; but he devoted himself to her
service with a slavish watchfulness which was foreign to the manner of
an ordinary guest.
Wherever Lady Eversleigh went, Carrington's eyes followed her; every
wish of hers seemed to be divined by him. If she lingered for a few
moments by an open window, Mr. Carrington was at hand with her shawl.
If she was reading, and the leaves of her book required to be cut open,
the surgeon had procured her a paper-knife before she could suffer
inconvenience or delay. If she went to the piano, he was at the
instrument before her, ready to adjust her chair, to arrange her music.
In another man these attentions might have appeared very common-place,
but so quiet of foot, so subdued of voice, was Victor Carrington, that
there seemed something stealthy, something secret in his devotion;
something which had no right to exist. One long day of patient
watchfulness revealed all this to Sir Oswald Eversleigh; and with the
revelation came a new and terrible agony.
How far was his wife to blame for all that was exceptional in the
surgeon's manner? Was she aware of his devotion? Did she encourage this
silent and stealthy worship? She did not, at any rate, discourage it,
since she permitted it.
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