"He's gone! If they don't hit a tree and break their necks he ought to be back in half an hour." Surprised to find his mother still sitting there, he demanded: "Haven't you seen Paula yet?"
"No," she answered. "I was waiting until the gentleman at the desk had time to attend to me."
But Tod was not of the kind who waits for the convenience of others. Striding boldly to the desk, he said, in a tone of authority:
"Mr. Spencer, will you please send for Miss Marsh? My mother wishes to see her at once."
The superintendent, who was busy going over some papers with Dr. McMutrie, looked up at this interruption and frowned.
"Impossible," he snapped. "The patient can't be seen to-day."
"But this lady is Miss Marsh's aunt," persisted Tod, not to be put off so easily.
The superintendent suddenly became more polite.
"Are you Mrs. James Marsh?" he asked, looking more closely at the visitor.
"Yes," she answered.