The person whose presence, though we know nothing of the cause of that effect, is palpably attended with pain to anyone who is dear to us, grows odious, and I began to detest Doctor Bryerly.
It was a grey, dark morning, and in a dark pass in the gallery, near the staircase, I came full upon the ungainly Doctor, in his glossy black suit.
I think, if my mind had been less anxiously excited on the subject of his visit, or if I had not disliked him so much, I should not have found courage to accost him as I did.

There was something sly, I thought, in his dark, lean face; and he looked so low, so like a Scotch artisan in his Sunday clothes, that I felt a sudden pang of indignation, at the thought that a great gentleman, like my father, should have suffered under his influence, and I stopped suddenly, instead of passing him by with a mere salutation, as he expected, 'May I ask a question, Doctor Bryerly ?' 'Certainly' 'Are you the friend whom my father expects ?' 'I don't quite see.' 'The friend, I mean, with whom he is to make an expedition to some distance, I think, and for some little time ?' 'No,' said the Doctor, with a shake of his head.
'And who is he ?' 'I really have not a notion, Miss.' 'Why, he said that _you knew_,' I replied.
The Doctor looked honestly puzzled.
'Will he stay long away?
pray tell me.' The Doctor looked into my troubled face with inquiring and darkened eyes, like one who half reads another's meaning; and then he said a little briskly, but not sharply-- 'Well, _I_ don't know, I'm sure, Miss; no, indeed, you must have mistaken; there's nothing that _I_ know.' There was a little pause, and he added-- 'No.

He never mentioned any friend to me.' I fancied that he was made uncomfortable by my question, and wanted to hide the truth.

Perhaps I was partly right.
'Oh! Doctor Bryerly, pray, _pray_ who is the friend, and where is he going ?' 'I do _assure_ you,' he said, with a strange sort of impatience, 'I don't know; it is all nonsense.' And he turned to go, looking, I think, annoyed and disconcerted.
A terrific suspicion crossed my brain like lightning.
'Doctor, one word,' I said, I believe, quite wildly.

'Do you--do you think his mind is at all affected ?' 'Insane ?' he said, looking at me with a sudden, sharp inquisitiveness, that brightened into a smile.