"Howd'y-do, uncle! Don't you see me?" said Pauline, reaching up her hand.
"It is always hard to find you, Pauline; you are such a demure, silent little body," said he, shaking her hand kindly.
"Welcome, Guy! I expected you yesterday. What detained you so long?" Mrs. Chilton approached with outstretched hand, and at the same time offered her lips for a kiss.
He availed himself of neither, but, fixing his eyes intently on hers, said as sweetly as if he had been soothing a fretful child:
"Necessity, of course; but now that I have come, I shall make amends, I promise you, for the delay. Percy, has she taken good care of you?"
"She is an admirable nurse; I can never requite the debt she has imposed. Is not my convalescence sufficient proof of her superior skill?" Mr. Lockhart raised himself, and, leaning on his elbow, suffered his eyes to rest admiringly on the graceful form and faultless features beside him.
"Are you really so much better?" said Dr. Hartwell, gnawing his lip.
"Indeed I am! Why are you so incredulous? Have you so little confidence in your own prescriptions?"
"Confidence! I had little enough when given, immeasurably less now. But we will talk of all this after a little. I have some matters to arrange, and will be with you at tea. May, I wish to see you."
"Well, Guy, what is it!" Without moving an inch, she looked up at him.