After learning the terrible news Donna Angela unconsciously steeled herself against her natural impulse to break down.

She has a strong will, and the result is what you see.

The strain of resisting was so great that it deadened her to all sensation in a few hours.

If she could fall ill, the tension would relax; in my opinion it will do so when her physical strength is worn out by starvation and lack of sleep, but a simple specific malady, like the whooping-cough or the measles, would be better for her.

If you cannot break up her present condition, and if she has any organic weakness of the heart, it may stop beating one of these days.