Amelia Phillips , with all her naturally keen insight and her acquired knowledge of Emily 's character , had never been able to fathom the latter 's attitude of mind towards her husband . From the time that Emily had come back to her girlhood 's home , five years before , Stephen Fair 's name had never crossed her lips . `` I suppose you have n't heard that Stephen is very ill , '' said Amelia slowly . Not a feature of Emily 's face changed . Only in her voice when she spoke was a curious jarring , as if a false note had been struck in a silver melody . `` What is the matter with him ? '' `` Typhoid , '' answered Amelia briefly . She felt relieved that Emily had taken it so calmly . Amelia hated Stephen Fair with all the intensity of her nature because she believed that he had treated Emily ill , but she had always been distrustful that Emily in her heart of hearts loved her husband still . That , in Amelia Phillips ' opinion , would have betrayed a weakness not to be tolerated . Emily looked at the lamp unwinkingly . `` That wick needs trimming , '' she said . Then , with a sudden recurrence of the untuneful note : `` Is he dangerously ill ? '' `` We have n't heard for three days . The doctors were not anxious about him Monday , though they said it was a pretty severe case . '' A faint , wraith-like change of expression drifted over Emily 's beautiful face and was gone in a moment . What was it -- relief ? Regret ? It would have been impossible to say . When she next spoke her vibrant voice was as perfectly melodious as usual .
`` I think I will go to bed , XXXXX .
Amelia Emily Fair Monday Phillips Stephen days girlhood note years