She is wholly incapable of reason
or of argument. At times she appears sane and sensible enough and
talks of other matters coherently; but the moment she touches on
this topic she becomes excited and vehement. It has been a great
comfort to me, and I am sure it will be to you, that your old
servant Abijah has returned and taken up the position of housekeeper.
"As soon as your mother's first excitement passed away I asked her
if she would like this, and she eagerly assented. The woman was in
the town, having come over on the morning after you gave yourself
up, and to my great relief she at once consented to take up her
former position. This is a great thing for your sister, who is, of
course, entirely in her charge, as your mother is not in a condition
to attend to anything. I was afraid at first that she would not
remain, so indignant was she at your mother's believing your guilt;
but when I assured her that the poor lady was not responsible for
what she said, and that her mind was in fact unhinged altogether
by the calamity, she overcame her feelings; but it is comic to see
her struggling between her indignation at your mother's irresponsible
talk and her consciousness that it is necessary to abstain from
exciting her by contradiction."
Dr. Green had spoken as lightly as he could, but he knew how painful
it must be to Ned to hear of his mother's conviction of his guilt,
and how much it would add to the trials of his position.
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