"Oh, Hetty, Hetty! The dog—the big black dog! Oh, Hetty! Come back, come back! Oh, Zelica, poor Zelica!"
"Where is Hetty, John?"
"I don't know. But, if this is her fault—!"
His voice was lost in Flo's terrified screams.
"John, dear, she is very ill. I must have help. Go to the Convalescent Home over there, and ask the nurse to come to me—she was talking to Flo the other day. And get a doctor: I think we must lose no time."
Mr. Eyre ran to the Home, and was very fortunate, for the nurse could easily be spared, as there were not many patients, and they were all nearly well. So she came at once, and so did the doctor.
It seemed a long time before the doctor came downstairs to the room where poor John Eyre waited for him, and where the three children sat cowering in a corner, terrified by Flo's shrieks, and their father's face of misery.
"Your wife, sir (I don't know your name yet), tells me that the doctor who knows the child's case could be here in a few hours if you went for him. There are no bones broken; but she is in a fearful state of terror and excitement, and I should be very glad to have this Dr. Haddon's help. You see, I don't know anything about the previous injury. Mrs. Dooner, the nurse, can stay here, and I should advise your taking these poor little things home, if possible. There will be plenty to do, without having them here."
"I will take them home, and bring Haddon back. When is the next train?"
"There is one in half an hour. If no one else sends for me, I will stay here until you return. You may be able to get back by one which stops here at nine, but to do that you must not lose a moment."