“Look here, Adrian, hadn’t you better try and get some sleep? There’ll be things to be done, later, you know, and you and I—if you’ll let me help—must try and take some of it off Lucilla’s hands.”
All the child in Adrian responded to the transparent lure.
He drew himself up.
“Thanks awfully, Owen. I shall be only too glad of your help. There’ll be a good deal for me to see to, of course, so perhaps I’d better lie down for an hour or two while I can. What about Lucilla?”
“Would you like to come and find her?”
The boy shuddered violently.
“Not in there—I couldn’t,” he said piteously.
They went upstairs together.
As they passed the door of the Canon’s room, it was cautiously opened and the nurse came outside and spoke to Adrian.
“The doctor should be here presently. I want him to see Miss Morchard. She turned faint a little while ago, and I’ve got her into her room, but I’m afraid she’s in for a breakdown. I’ve seen them like this before, after a long strain, you know.”