"I must get hold of Mrs. Holme. We'll let the doctor see him when he comes."
He sped along to the upper corridor and to the nursery wing which was set apart for the girls. He dared not go near his wife, because of carrying infection to Ruffie, but spoke to her from a distance. She spoke to him with pale face and tired eyes, but she spoke encouragingly.
"Ruffie often has feverish nights, but let the doctor see him by all means. Is his throat sore?"
"I have not heard him complain of it."
"Brenda will nurse him. She is accustomed to these feverish attacks of his. We'll hope it is nothing more."
Justin went back to his boy. He felt that he could not leave him.
Two hours later, the doctor arrived. Justin paced up and down in the passage outside Ruffie's room till the doctor had finished his examination. His face was haggard when the door opened and Dr. Forsyth joined him.
"Is he all right? Is it anything serious?"
"I am afraid," said the doctor gently, "that he will be our next patient."
"He has taken it, then?"