Barbara looked straight at him. Her quick woman's eyes had seen that this grave silent man was more than slightly interested in Jean.
"Mr. Oxton is only a distant cousin," she said.
"He did come down to us and sent me to her, but he is in a difficult position, for Jean will accept nothing from him, and I quite understand why it is that she cannot."
Dr. Fergusson raised his eyebrows.
"I tell you this in confidence," said Barbara, determining to make things clear. "He is very pertinacious, but Jean will have nothing to do with him. She likes him as a cousin, but nothing more, and she is not one to change her mind."
"I heard they were engaged," said Dr. Fergusson; and without another word he went straight out of the house.
Barbara went back to Jean, murmuring to herself, with a smile upon her lips, "It will all come right."
Jean was very quiet all that evening. She lay back in her chair, looking out into the London sky, and wondering how soon she would be able to be at work again.
The next morning, she assured Barbara that she was feeling almost well enough to go out.
Barbara laughed at her.