A Mutation And A Madness

           IntheweekfollowingthatmemorableGoodFridayCharlesWardwasseenmoreoftenthanusual,andwascontinuallycarryingbooksbetweenhislibraryandtheatticlaboratory.Hisactionswerequietandrational,buthehadafurtive,huntedlookwhichhismotherdidnotlike,anddevelopedanincrediblyravenousappetiteasgaugedbyhisdemandsuponthecook.Dr.WilletthadbeentoldofthoseFridaynoisesandhappenings,andonthefollowingTuesdayhadalongconversationwiththeyouthinthelibrarywherethepicturestarednomore.Theinterviewwas,asalways,inconclusive;butWillettisstillreadytoswearthattheyouthwassaneandhimselfatthetime.Heheldoutpromisesofanearlyrevelation,andspokeoftheneedofsecuringalaboratoryelsewhere.Atthelossoftheportraithegrievedsingularlylittleconsideringhisfirstenthusiasmoverit,butseemedtofindsomethingofpositivehumorinitssuddencrumbling.

           AboutthesecondweekCharlesbegantobeabsentfromthehouseforlongperiods,andonedaywhengoodoldblackHannahcametohelpwiththespringcleaningshementionedhisfrequentvisitstotheoldhouseinOlneyCourt,wherehewouldcomewithalargevaliseandperformcuriousdelvingsinthecellar.HewasalwaysveryliberaltoherandtooldAsa,butseemedmoreworriedthanheusedtobe;whichgrievedherverymuch,sinceshehadwatchedhimgrowupfrombirth.AnotherreportofhisdoingscamefromPawtuxet,wheresomefriendsofthefamilysawhimatadistanceasurprisingnumberoftimes.