Billy was so unlike herself, they all said.
"If something could only rouse her," suggested the Henshaw's old family physician one day.

"A certain sort of mental shock--if not too severe--would do the deed, I think, and with no injury--only benefit.
Her physical condition is in just the state that needs a stimulus to stir it into new life and vigor." As it happened, this was said on a certain Monday.

Two days later Bertram's sister Kate, on her way with her husband to Mr.Hartwell's old home in Vermont, stopped over in Boston for a two days' visit.

She made her headquarters at Cyril's home, but very naturally she went, without much delay, to pay her respects to Bertram, Jr.
"Mr.Hartwell's brother isn't well," she explained to Billy, after the greetings were over.

"You know he's the only one left there, since Mother and Father Hartwell came West.