Did Grandpapa actually throw a glance of concern at the invalid? She could hardly believe her eyes, and felt more than ever how pleasant it was to be the centre of attention.
And then Aunt Beryl came in again, dropped into a chair near the door, oddly out of breath, and quietly fainted away.
Gertrude had been sent for Dr. Young before they could bring her back to consciousness again, and when he did arrive, he and Uncle George almost carried Aunt Beryl up to her room.
“Thoroughly overdone,” said Dr. Young. “Miss Raymond has been so very unsparing of herself during her niece’s illness—one of those unselfish people, you know, who never think anything about themselves. I am ashamed of myself for not seeing how near she was to a break-down.”
Decidedly Aunt Beryl was the heroine of the hour.
Lydia was ashamed of herself for the resentment that this turning of the tables awoke in her.
She went to her own room, unescorted, when the commotion had subsided, and her supper was brought up to her by Gertrude nearly an hour late.
“How is Aunt Beryl now?” she asked.
“Gone to sleep, miss. She is wore out, after sitting up at night, and then the nursing during the day, and seeing to the house and the old gentleman, all just the same as usual—and no wonder.”
No wonder, indeed! Everyone said the same.