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VI . THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Isa Whitney , brother of the late Elias Whitney , D . D . , Principal of the Theological College of St . George’s , was much addicted to opium . The habit grew upon him , as I understand , from some foolish freak when he was at college ; for having read De Quincey’s description of his dreams and sensations , he had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the same effects . He found , as so many more have done , that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of , and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug , an object of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives . I can see him now , with yellow , pasty face , drooping lids , and pin - point pupils , all huddled in a chair , the wreck and ruin of a noble man . One night — it was in June , ’ 89 — there came a ring to my bell , about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the clock . I sat up in my chair , and my wife laid her needle - work down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment . “ A patient ! ” said she . “ You’ll have to go out . ” I groaned , for I was newly come back from a weary day . We heard the door open , a few hurried words , and then quick steps upon the linoleum . Our own door flew open , and a lady , clad in some dark - coloured stuff , with a black veil , entered the room . “ You will excuse my calling so late , ” she began , and then , suddenly losing her self - control , she ran forward , threw her arms about my wife’s neck , and sobbed upon her shoulder . “ Oh , I’m in such trouble ! ” she cried ; “ I do so want a little help . ” “ Why , ” said my wife , pulling up her veil , “ it is Kate Whitney . How you startled me , Kate ! I had not an idea who you were when you came in . ” “ I didn’t know what to do , so I came straight to you . ” That was always the way . Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to a lighthouse . “ It was very sweet of you to come . Now , you must have some wine and water , and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it . Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed ? ” “ Oh , no , no ! I want the doctor’s advice and help , too . It’s about Isa . He has not been home for two days . I am so frightened about him ! ” It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her husband’s trouble , to me as a doctor , to my wife as an old friend and school companion . We soothed and comforted her by such words as we could find . Did she know where her husband was ? Was it possible that we could bring him back to her ?
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