“Pray give yourself no uneasiness. I merely scraped and bruised my arm. It is a matter of no consequence.”
“Of that I beg to be considered the best judge. Show me your arm.”
“I prefer not to trouble you.”
He gently but firmly took hold of it, unwound the towel, and she saw him start and shudder at sight of the mangled flesh.
“An ugly gash! Tell me how you hurt yourself so severely.”
“It is a matter that I do not choose to discuss; but since you have seen it, I wish you would be so good as to dress and bandage the wound.”
“Oh, my little sister! Will you never learn to trust your brother?”
“Oh, Dr. Grey! will you never learn to let me alone, when I am indulging the ‘Imp of the Perverse’ in an audience, and do not wish to be interrupted?”
She mimicked his pleading tone so admirably that his face flushed.
“Come to the sitting-room. No one can disturb us there, and I will attend to your injury, which is really serious.”