M 
     
    
   
   
    
     An Old, Unhappy, Far-off Thing 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     “ It is a dreadful tale,” he said moodily, 
     
     getting up and walking restlessly to and 
     
     fro in the dim spruce-shadowed old 
     
     kitchen where they were. “ And if it 
     
     is true that her mother’s wilful silence 
     
     caused Kilmeny’s dumbness, I fear, as 
     
     you say, that we cannot help her. But you 
     
     may be mistaken. It may have been noth- 
     
     ing more than a strange coincidence. Pos- 
     
     sibly something may be done for her. At 
     
     all events, we must try. I have a friend 
     
     in Queenslea who is a physician. His 
     
     name is David Baker, and he is a very 
     
     skilful specialist in regard to the throat 
     
     and voice. I shall have him come here 
     
     and see Kilmeny.” _ 
     
    

    
     “ Have your way,” assented Janet in 
     
     the hopeless tone which she might have 
     
     used in giving him permission to attempt 
     
     any impossible thing. 
     
    

    
     “ It will be necessary to tell Dr. Baker 
     
     why Kilmeny cannot speak — or why you 
     
     think she cannot.” 
     
    

    
     Janet’s face twitched. 
     
    

    
     213