"What is the matter with his patients generally?"
"Different sorts of things," Mrs. Stokes replied. "Sometimes it's what the doctor calls 'a mental case.' But I shouldn't think it was that this time. Joe said the gentleman looked as if he was all right in his head. Sometimes they only want change and rest, and a bit of extra looking after."
"No, I shouldn't think it could be that with him," remarked Mildred. "Well, good-bye. I'll come again some day before very long."
[CHAPTER XIII]
SOMETHING FOR MILDRED TO DO
MRS. STOKES went back into her cottage, hugging Posie No. 2, and Mildred was on the point of starting for home, feeling very tired, and ready for nothing but rest. Before, however, she could turn her face in the right direction, another front door was flung open—that of the next little house, which had upon a brass plate outside an indication of "The Misses Coxen, Dressmakers," as resident there—and a plump little woman, with eyes aghast and dropping under-lip, stood in an attitude of dismayed appeal to the world in general.
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!" she wailed. And in her extremity of excitement, she began to dance from one foot to the other, wringing her hands. "Oh dear! Whatever in the world shall I do?"
"Can I help in any way?" asked Mildred, wondering what would happen next.
"Will you really? How good of you. But I don't believe I know who you are." Miss Sophy was far too flustered to recognise anybody unfamiliar.
"Never mind. My name is Pattison. Tell me what has happened."