`Sickly irritability,' said he to the Princess, when Kitty had left the room. `However, I had finished....'

And the doctor scientifically defined to the Princess, as to an exceptionally clever woman, the condition of the young Princess, and concluded by explaining the mode of drinking the unnecessary waters. When the question of going abroad came up, the doctor was plunged into profound considerations, as though deciding a weighty problem. Finally his decision was given: they might go abroad, but must put no faith in charlatans, but turn to him in everything.

It seemed as though some cheerful influence had sprung up after the doctor's departure. The mother grew more cheerful when she returned to her daughter, while Kitty too pretended to be more cheerful. She had frequent, almost constant, occasions to be pretending now.

`Really, I'm quite well, maman. But if you want to go abroad, let's!' she said, and, trying to show that she was interested in the proposed trip, she began talking of the preparations for the departure.