"Oh, the doctor! No, Harry, I don't mind. Do as you like. He can get on without us."
"If you really mind, I'll try——"
"No, no, no," she burst out. "You're quite right. Of course you're right. I don't want you to go on. I'm tired of it too."
"Are you?" he asked, with a face suddenly brightening. "Are you really? Then I'm glad I told Ruston not to come bothering about it here."
Had he been listening, he could have heard the sharp indrawing of her breath.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Why, I told him not to come and see you till—till you were stronger."
She shot a terrified glance at him. His expression was merely anxious and, according to its wont when he was in a difficulty, apologetic.
"And he won't be here much longer now," he added, comfortingly.
"No, not much," she forced herself to murmur.