rst；　so　I　told　him　again。　He　inute。　Then　he　stood　up；　and　walked　up　and　down　the　room　very　quickly。　A　strange　sound　came　from　him；　like　laughing。

Chapter　5

An　Important　Visitor

I　did　not　want　Merrick　to　live　by　himself；　like　a　man　in　a　lighthouse。　He　read　his　books；　and　talked　to　me；　but　I　wanted　him　to　talk　to　more　people。　And　I　wanted　him　to　talk　to　women。

Merrick　read　about　women　in　his　books；　but　he　did　not　often　talk　to　women。　He　met　the　nurses　every　day；　but　they　did　not　talk　to　him　very　much。　For　them；　he　was　always　a　creature；　not　a　man。

One　day；　one　of　my　friends；　a　beautiful　young　woman；　came　to　the　hospital。　I　told　her　about　Merrick；　and　took　her　to　his　room。　She　opened　the　door；　and　smiled　at　him。

‘Good　morning；　Mr　Merrick；　’she　said。　Then　she　shook　his　hand。

Merrick　looked　at　her　for　a　minute　with　his　mouth　open。　Then　he　sat　down　on　his　bed；　with　his　head　in　his　hand；　and　cried。　He　cried　for　nearly　five　minutes。　The　tears　ran　down　his　face；　between　his　fingers；　and　onto　the　floor。

My　friend　sat　on　the　bed　beside　him　and　put　her　hand　on　his　arm。　She　said　nothing；　but　she　smiled　at　him　and　shookhis　hand　again　before　she　left。

‘Dr　Treves；　’he　said　to　me　that　night。　‘That　lady　was　wonderful！　My　mother　smiled　at　me　once；　many　years　ago；　but　no　women　smile　at　me　now。　But　this　lady　smiled　at　me　too；　and　she　shook　my　hand！　A　beautiful　lady　smiled　at　me　and　shook　my　hand！　’

My　young　lady　friend　came　aga