"That, like every other blessing, is from above," said Mr. Presgrave, seating himself by the couch of Percy. "I did not know that you were such a sufferer; and sickness at home and my own infirmities have long prevented me from paying distant visits, or I should not have allowed so much time to pass without coming to see my young friend."
In quiet converse the time rolled on; a stranger would not have guessed that a trial so severe was impending over one of the party. Percy, indeed, turned pale when the clock struck two, and often uneasily glanced at the door; from his room being situated at the back of the house, he could not hear the surgeon's carriage arrive. Conversation became difficult and forced, Willy constantly caught himself watching the clock, and the long black hand stole from number to number, till a single stroke told the half-hour.
"I wonder," said Mr. Manners, with a somewhat indignant air, "that Dr. Graves keeps the poor boy waiting so long. The expectation is worse than the thing itself."
At this moment the sound of a loud ring was heard; and as Deborah was waiting in the hall, it was instantly succeeded by that of a quick, firm step, and the door of the sitting-room was thrown open.
Percy turned very cold, but had hardly time to lift up his heart in the brief prayer, "Lord I help me!" when he heard his uncle exclaim, "Why, it is not Dr. Graves, after all!"
The respite brought the blood again to the boy's cheek, and Willy felt relief almost equal to his own.
"It is our good Dr. Prince," he whispered to Percy, "who is now attending my aunt."
"I regret the occasion of my coming here," said the doctor, after bowing to the two gentlemen, "but I received a letter not an hour ago, informing me of the sudden illness of Dr. Graves, which renders it quite impossible for him to keep his appointment here, and has induced him—" here the medical man handed a letter to the attorney—"to request me to call and see his patient!"
Mr. Manners looked annoyed and a little perplexed. "Dr. Graves was to have performed a serious operation, and I am afraid of the effects of delay."
"Would it not be well," suggested Mr. Presgrave, "for Dr. Prince, of whose skill I have long had reason to entertain the highest opinion, to look at the foot of my young friend?"