She was stout and comely ; the auburn hair was darker and arched away from her face in smooth , shining waves instead of the old-time curls . Her face was unlined and fresh-coloured , but no woman could live in subjection to her own unbending will for so many years and not show it . Nobody , looking at Theodosia now , would have found it hard to believe that a woman with such a determined , immoveable face could stick to a course of conduct in defiance of circumstances . Wesley Brooke was almost forgotten . People knew , through correspondents of Greene and Cary , that he had prospered and grown rich . The curious old story had crystallized into accepted history . A life may go on without ripple or disturbance for so many years that it may seem to have settled into a lasting calm ; then a sudden wind of passion may sweep over it and leave behind a wake of tempestuous waters . Such a time came at last to Theodosia . One day in August Mrs. Emory Merritt dropped in . Emory Merritt 's sister was Ogden Greene 's wife , and the Merritts kept up an occasional correspondence with her . Hence , Cecilia Merritt always knew what was to be known about Wesley Brooke , and always told Theodosia because she had never been expressly forbidden to do so . Today she looked slightly excited . Secretly she was wondering if the news she brought would have any effect whatever on Theodosia 's impassive calm . `` Do you know , Dosia , Wesley 's real sick ? In fact , Phoebe Greene says they have very poor hopes of him . He was kind of ailing all the spring , it seems , and about a month ago he was took down with some kind of slow fever they have out there . Phoebe says they have a hired nurse from the nearest town and a good doctor , but she reckons he wo n't get over it . That fever goes awful hard with a man of his years . '' Cecilia Merritt , who was the fastest talker in Heatherton , had got this out before she was brought up by a queer sound , half gasp , half cry , from Theodosia . The latter looked as if someone had struck her a physical blow .
`` Mercy , Dosia , you ai n't going XXXXX faint !
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