“Not likely. These are very rich people, with a great house in Hyde Park regions, and a place in the country. They are always asking Cecil there; only my mother does not fancy it. It is not a matter of charity after the first stress. They can easily have advice from England, or anywhere they like.”
By this time they reached the hotel, and John alighted briskly enough, and explained the state of affairs in a few words.
“My dear boy,” said Dr. Medlicott, “I’ll go up at once, as soon as I can get at our travelling medicine-chest. Luckily we have what is most likely to be useful.”
“Thank you,” said Johnny, and therewith he turned dizzy, and reeled against the wall.
“It is nothing—nothing,” he said, as the doctor having helped him into a sitting-room, laid his hand on his pulse. “Don’t delay about me! I shall be all right in a minute.”
“They are getting down the boxes. No time is lost,” said the doctor, quietly. “See whether they can let us have some soup, Cecil.”
“I couldn’t swallow anything,” said Johnny, imploringly.
“Have you had any breakfast this morning?”
“Yes, a bit of bread and a drink of milk. There was not time for more.”
“And you had been searching all one night, and nursing the next?”