"You're wanted at Mrs. Maldon's, Bycars. Awfully sorry to disturb you."
"Oh!" said the dressing-gown in a changed, interested tone. "Mrs. Maldon's! Right. I'll follow you."
"You'll come at once?" Louis urged.
"I shall come at once."
The door was curtly closed.
"So that's how you call a doctor in the middle of the night!" thought Louis, and ran off. He had scarcely deciphered the man's face.
The return, being chiefly downhill, was less exhausting. As he approached his aunt's house he saw that there was a light on the ground floor as well as in the front bedroom. The door opened as he swung the gate. The lobby gas had been lighted. Rachel was waiting for him. Her hair was tied up now. The girl looked wise, absurdly so. It was as though she was engaged in the act of being equal to the terrible occasion.
"He's coming," said Louis.
"You've been frightfully quick!" said she, as if triumphantly. She appeared to glory in the crisis.
He passed within as she held the door. He was frantic to rush upstairs to the fireplace in his room; but he had to seem deliberate.