Miss Sara remembered Marcella only as a child that had been loved and lost . Nobody else in Bridgeport thought about her at all . The doctor came in that evening . He had a rose in his buttonhole and he walked with a step as light as a boy 's . `` She is free to-day , '' he said . `` We shall soon have her again , Miss Tranquil . '' `` Do you think she will be the same ? '' I said . I do n't know what made me say it . I hate to be one of those people who throw cold water on other peoples ' hopes . But it slipped out before I thought . I suppose the doubt had been vaguely troubling me always , under all my faith in Marcella , and now made itself felt in spite of me . But the doctor only laughed . `` How could she be changed ? '' he said . `` Some women might be -- most women would be -- but not Marcella . Dear Miss Tranquil , do n't spoil your beautiful record of confidence by doubting her now . We shall have her again soon -- how soon I do n't know , for I do n't even know where she is , whether in the old world or the new -- but just as soon as she can come to us . '' We said nothing more -- neither of us . But every day the light in the doctor 's eyes grew brighter and deeper and tenderer .
He never spoke of XXXXX , but I knew she was in his thoughts every moment .
Bridgeport Marcella Tranquil buttonhole day evening peoples rose spite tenderer