Patty stirred restlessly, her breathing laboured and difficult. “I—did—promise,” she said in very low, but clear tones, “but I didn’t—oh, I didn’t—want to—I didn’t——” her voice trailed away to silence.
“What is that promise?” whispered the doctor to Nan. “It’s been troubling her——”
“I don’t know at all. She usually tells me her troubles, but I don’t know what this means.”
There was a slight commotion below stairs. The doctor looked at a nurse, and she moved noiselessly out to command quiet.
Patty’s eyes opened wide, they looked very blue, and their glance was more nearly rational than it had been.
“Sh!” she said, weakly. “Listen! It is! Yes, it is. Tell him to come up, I want to see him.”
“Who is it?” asked the doctor. “She mustn’t see anybody.”
“I must,” whimpered Patty, beginning to cry; “it’s Little Billee; I want him now.”
“For heaven’s sake, she’s rational!” exclaimed the doctor. “Bring him up, whoever he is, if she says so! No matter if it’s an elephant, bring him at once!”
Half frightened, Nan went out into the hall. Sure enough, big Bill Farnsworth was halfway upstairs.