XXXVI
She knocked at his dressing-room door, and Miss Webb, the trained nurse, opened it. When she saw Sophy, she stepped aside, smiling, for her to enter.
"My patient's doing fine, to-day," she said. "He's eat half a chicken, and wants more. So I'm giving him the other half."
Sophy showed her the telegram, and asked if she thought Mr. Loring were well enough to be consulted about a matter of importance. Something that might perhaps agitate him. Miss Webb asked how important it was. Sophy replied that it was of the utmost importance. Miss Webb considered a moment, then said:
"Well, if he's got to know it, morning's the best time. I guess he's well enough not to have important things kept from him."
She held open the door and Sophy went through the dressing-room to Loring's bedroom. Miss Webb opened that door also and called out in the tone of artificial good cheer with which one addresses convalescents:
"Here's Mrs. Loring come to see you eat that other half, Mr. Loring!"
She withdrew, closing the door, and Sophy went over to where Loring sat in an armchair with a tray on a little table before him.
He had swallowed a mouthful of broiled fowl with undue haste when he heard Miss Webb's announcement, and now as Sophy advanced he gulped some White Rock, partly to clear his throat, partly to cover his embarrassment.