Miss Claude Doctor Asher, he panted. Come at once. Masters got another of his fits.
Volume One Chapter Five. The Doctor is King
But he looks so ghastly. You do not think
Yes, I do, my child, said the doctor cheerfully. Not what you think, because I know. He has another fit precisely the same as the last, and it was evidently a sudden seizure, just as he had risen from his chair, after writing that letter.
Then there is no danger?
Oh, dear, no. Thats right, you see. Well have this mattress on the floor; and he can lie here. Dont be alarmed.
But I am horribly alarmed.
Then you must not be, my child. I will not conceal the fact from you that he will probably be subject to more fits, and may have one at any time.
But I feel so helpless.
So does a doctor, my dear. We try all we can, but time has to perform the greater part of the cure, after we have done all we can to avoid suffocation, and the patient injuring himself in his struggles. There, there; hes going on all right, and youve been a very good, brave girl. I quite admire your behaviour all through; and another time, if I am not here, you will know exactly how to act.
Oh, dont talk of another time, Doctor Asher.
Well, I will not, he said, smiling. Now, dont be alarmed, but keep perfectly cool, for I must go back and see to that poor fellow at the quarry.
Yes, of course. But, doctor, if my poor father should be taken worse?
He will not be taken worse, but gradually mend. I shall not be very long away.
No, no; pray dont be long.
No; and mind you are my assistant. So you must be cool and self-possessed. Shall I send Miss Dillon to sit with you?
Yes, please, do, said the agitated girl, as she gazed wildly at her fathers altered face.
Doctor Asher seemed rather to resemble a very smooth, black tom cat, and, as he drew down his cuffs, and passed his white hands over his glossy coat, an imaginative person would not have been much surprised to see him begin to lick himself, to remove a few specks caused by the business in which he had been engaged.
As he left the study and crossed the hall, with its polished granite flooring, his delicate manner of proceeding toward the drawing-room, and stepping from one to another of the oases of Eastern rugs, was still like the progress of the cat who believed the polished granite to be water, and tried to avoid wetting his paws.
When he laid his hand upon the drawing-room door, a murmur of voices came from within, and, as he entered, Mary Dillon jumped up from the low ottoman upon which she had been seated, talking to Glyddyr, and ran quickly to the doctors side.
How is he? she said excitedly.
Better, certainly. Miss Gartram wants you to go and stay with her.
Yes, of course. Good-bye, Mr Glyddyr, and thank you for being so kind.
She spoke as she ran to the door, jerked the last words back over her shoulder, and was gone, leaving the doctor face to face with the visitor.
How is he? said the latter. You can speak plainly to me.
To be sure I can, my dear sir. Ah, what a world this is. Yesterday we were taking our champagne in the saloon of your charming yacht, to-day
You are keeping me waiting for an answer, said Glyddyr, rather stiffly.
So I am, said the doctor, smiling. Well, how is he? Rather bad. Nasty fit of his usual sort.
Then he is subject to these fits?
Most decidedly.
But what caused it?
Worry.
papa to have more advice?
It would be of no use, dear. I could cure him.
You?
Yes; or he could cure himself.
Mary!
Yes, said the little, keen-looking body, kneeling down by her cousins side; uncle has only to leave off worrying about making more money and piling up riches that he will never enjoy, and he would soon be well again.
Claude sighed.
See what a life he leads, always in such a hurry that he cannot finish a meal properly; and as to taking a bit of pleasure in any form, he would think it wicked. I havent patience with him. Yes, I have, poor old fellow plenty. He has been very good to miserable little me.
Of course he has, dear, said Claude, throwing her arms about her cousins neck and kissing her, with the result that the sharp-looking, self-contained little body uttered an hysterical cry, clung to her, and burst out sobbing wildly, as if all control was gone.
Mary, darling, dont, pray dont. You distress me. What is the matter?
Im miserable, wretched, sobbed the poor girl, with her face hidden in her cousins breast. I always seem to be doing something wrong. Its just as if, when I tried to make people happy, I was a kind of imp of mischief, and caused trouble.
No, no, no! What folly.
It isnt folly; its quite true. See what I did this morning.
Claude felt her cheeks begin to burn, and she tried to speak, but the words would not come.
I knew that Chris Lisle had gone up the east river fishing, and I was sure he longed to see you, and I was quite certain you wanted to see him.
Mary, be silent, cried Claude, in an excited whisper; it is not true.
Yes, it is, dear. You know it is, and I could see that he was miserable, and had been since you went on board Mr Glyddyrs yacht, so I felt that it would be quite right to take you round there, so that you might meet and make it up. And see what mischief I seem to have made.