CHAPTER XV.

Nervous and trembling, in a condition verging on total collapse, the young girl suffered herself to be led into the parlor, there to face the strange tribunal which was to pa.s.s judgment upon her. Further resistance she felt was useless. That she realized. These men would sit there and persecute her until she surrendered and submitted to their merciless cross-examination. Whether they had a legal right thus to invade the privacy of her home she did not know. Mr. Ricaby had gone to Albany, and there was no way of communicating with him. No doubt her uncle and Mr.

Cooley knew he was away and had taken advantage of it. If only Tod would come. Perhaps he had already received the message.

As she entered, the doctors half rose from their chairs and bowed. There was a quiet dignity in her manner that compelled their respect. Each looked intently at her, and Dr. McMutrie, leaving his seat, placed a chair for her so she might face them.

"Now, Miss Marsh," he said, not unkindly, "please don't be alarmed.

There is nothing to be afraid of. We are here only for your own good.

Won't you please answer the few questions we shall ask you? It is merely a matter of form. Please take a seat, and above all, don't be nervous."

Paula sat down, and he returned to his place. Mr. Cooley made a sign to Mrs. Parkes to withdraw, and the landlady was about to obey when Paula stopped her.

"Please don't go, Mrs. Parkes--please don't go!" she cried almost hysterically.

Mr. Cooley was about to object, but on a sign of a.s.sent from the head of the commission, the landlady was allowed to remain.

Mr. Cooley now proceeded to business.

"We ask your pardon, Miss Marsh, for what seems to be an unwarranted intrusion, but--the law prescribes our rights--that is, my client's right to take any steps he may deem necessary to see you and bring these gentlemen with him for the purpose of--er--talking over your future."

"My future?" she echoed. Looking around in bewilderment she demanded: "Who--who are these gentlemen?"

Mr. Cooley hastened to reply.

"Friends of your uncle's--friends of mine--of yours."

"What do they want?" she demanded falteringly.

The lawyer grew red in the face. He was at a loss to answer frankly her very direct question. Stuttering and stammering, he said:

"To--er--just to--er----" Not knowing what to say, he introduced the doctors: "Professor Bodley, of Michigan, State Psychopathic expert--also Professor of Psychotherapy, Ann Arbor--Miss Marsh."

Professor Bodley bowed pompously.

Mr. Cooley continued the presentations:

"Dr. McMutrie, the eminent expert pathologist, psychologist, and alienist--Examiner New York State inst.i.tutions, etc., etc., etc., Miss Paula Marsh--my client's niece. I need not introduce Dr. Zacharie--your family physician."

"He is not my family physician," interrupted Paula, with quiet dignity.

"Not now perhaps," said Cooley soothingly. "But he was--er--now--er-- I'm sorry Mr. Ricaby isn't here to explain more fully the object----"

"What is the object?" demanded Paula.

The lawyer evaded a direct answer.

"Your interests," he replied quickly, "are perfectly safe in your uncle's hands. Oh, if I could only convince you--but never mind."

Turning to the doctor, he said, in a low tone:

"Observe the unnatural glitter of the eye when I mention the uncle. Will you proceed, gentlemen?"

From the time that Paula seated herself Dr. Zacharie kept his big, black eyes fixed on her. Once or twice she turned, and, noticing the persistence of his stare, she shuddered involuntarily. It made her restless and uncomfortable. She wondered if Harry Parkes had succeeded in telephoning to Tod. If only he would come! She didn't know what he could do to help her. These men, no doubt, had some sort of legal authority to torture her in this way, but Tod's mere presence would rea.s.sure her and help her to bear the ordeal.

"Doctor," said Professor Bodley pompously, "I think you had better----"

Dr. McMutrie began fumbling with some papers. Looking up, he said:

"Certainly, certainly. What is your age, Miss Marsh?"

"Twenty," she replied quietly.

The inspector cleared his throat and went on:

"Miss Marsh, will you tell me why you prefer to live here under these conditions rather than go and live with your uncle and aunt, where you would have so many more social advantages?"

The girl hesitated for a moment. Then she said:

"I--I prefer not to say."

"Is it not because you hate your Uncle James?" demanded Mr. Cooley.

The inspector held up his hand warningly to the lawyer.

"Please!"

"I do not hate him," said Paula. "I am afraid of him."

"Are you afraid of yourself?" continued the inspector. "You told Dr.

Zacharie that you could not control yourself in his presence."

"Yes," she cried, with a little shudder. "I--I am afraid of myself. He inspires me with hateful thoughts, and I believe that hateful thoughts injure the person who thinks them." Suddenly she turned and again found Dr. Zacharie staring at her. She stopped and almost hysterically she cried: "I--I can't answer you if---- I can't think if that man sits there and stares at me. Won't you please ask him to go?"

Dr. Zacharie smiled indulgently and shrugged his shoulders.

"Why, my dear child, I was unaware----" He shook his head significantly as if her hysterical outburst only went to confirm his diagnosis.

Mr. Cooley chuckled, and in an undertone to the experts he whispered:

"Another delusion--you see." To Dr. Zacharie he said: "Sit over there, will you, doctor?"

"Certainly, with pleasure."

The physician rose, and, crossing the room, took Professor Bodley's seat at back of table where Paula could not see him.

"So you are afraid of yourself?" continued the inspector.

"No--I don't mean--that," she answered quickly.