There are months and
months when she leaves us in peace because he is thinking of other
things, but of late, since his illness, she has been with him almost
constantly." A sob broke from her, and she buried her face in her hands.
"I suppose she is always trying to come--only she is too vague--and she
hasn't any form that we can see except when he thinks of her as she used
to look when she was alive. His thought of her is like that, hurt and
tragic and revengeful. You see, he feels that he ruined her life because
she died when the child was coming--a month before it would have been
born."
"And if he were to see her differently, would she change? Would she
cease to be revengeful if he stopped thinking her so?"
"God only knows. I've wondered and wondered how I might move her to
pity."
"Then you feel that she is really there? That she exists outside of his
mind?"
"How can I tell? What do any of us know of the world beyond? She exists
as much as I exist to you or you to me. Isn't thought all that there
is--all that we know?"
This was deeper than I could follow; but in order not to appear stupid,
I murmured sympathetically.
"And does she make him unhappy when she comes?"
"She is killing him--and me. I believe that is why she does it."
"Are you sure that she could stay away? When he thinks of her isn't she
obliged to come back?"
"Oh, I've asked that question over and over! In spite of his calling her
so unconsciously, I believe she comes of her own will.
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