This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...a broken dyke, abolished all older landmarks, and overwhelmed her world--with her acceptance of this fact as inexorable, fore-ordained, the instinct to keep aloof from him, to shrink from under his hands, grew hour by hour. It was, of course, mere reflex action--the pull-back from Nature's imperious prompting 'on!' But the instinct, strong as self-preservation (of one phase of which it was a spiritual counterpart), was so dominant with her that for days she could scarce be civil to him. She had always (as she looked back, this was clear) felt him keenly. His first entrance into her room, had given her a sense of being intensely alive. Now, partly that instinct of self-preservation, and underneath, lurking behind, a refinement of sensuousness, made her want to elude the touch of those slim brown fingers that did work as mechanic, as unfaltering, as some fine instrument that ruthlessly registers human conditions, feeling them as little as the hermometer feels cold. A thousand times she had reminded herself of how she had always despised the weak, hysterical fools who fell in love with their doctors_. There was something to her sense quite especially undignified in it. No such sentiment ought even remotely to touch a relation which at best is delicate and trying. Of course, doctors couldntjike_sick_a omen. Naturally, far more than other men they worshipped health. And if they saw that their patients----Ugh! how it must revolt them! This man, especially! How merciless he would be! For days now her preoccupation was How successfully to hide the truth. The strain told obviously upon her weakened forces. She was spent, and daily still more frail. She, who had been used to sleep so well, began to lie awake hour after hour, alter'jpf nately...