Another quarter of an hour elapsed, and then Rose ran impetuously down the stone steps.
'Mother, I'm so glad to see you! Where's Milly?' she exclaimed eagerly, and they kissed twice.
As she answered the greeting Leonora noticed the lines of fatigue in Rose's face, the brilliancy of her eyes, the emaciation of the body beneath her grey alpaca dress, and that air of false serenity masking hysteric excitement which she seemed to have noticed too in all the other officials—the doctors or students, the nurses, and even the dean.
'Are you ready now, dear?' she asked.
'Oh, I can't possibly come to-day, mother. Didn't Miss Smithson tell you? I'm awfully sorry I can't. But there's a very important case on. I can only stay a minute.'
'But, my child, we have arranged to take you to the theatre,' Leonora was on the point of expostulating. She checked herself, and placidly replied: 'I'm sorry, too. When shall you be free?'
'Might be able to get off to-morrow. I'll slip out in the morning and send you a telegram.'
'I should like you to try and be free to-morrow, my dear. You seem as if you needed a rest. Do you take any exercise?'
'As much as I can.'
'But you know, Rose——'