"Yes, while Miss Vivian was at Plessing. I should like to see her again. Will you give her my love?" said Grace.
"Yes, indeed I will. She's lonely out there, I often think, though young Trevellyan comes out when he can. Nice boy that, but they'll be sending him out again directly, I suppose. Now, then, Miss Jones, here's the station."
Grace despatched her business at the parcels office as quickly as possible, and came back with the neat wooden case carefully labelled all over.
"Put it there; it'll be quite safe. I wish I could take you back to Pollard Street, but they're expecting me at the Hospital and I must get on. Shall you be all right?"
"Oh, yes, and thank you so much. The walk will warm me, and it isn't far. Good-night, doctor."
"Good-night," responded the doctor cordially as the car started down the hill towards the Hospital.
He wondered whether Char would accept his offer to drive her out to Plessing on Christmas Eve, and reflected rather ruefully that, if so, it would certainly be a late and cold transit. But, at all events, his mission would have succeeded.
He triumphantly told Lady Vivian next day that Char was coming to Plessing on Christmas Eve.
"I put the case diplomatically, you know—just used a little tact, and she never made any difficulty at all. Delighted to come, if you ask me," said the doctor.
"Thank you so much, Dr. Prince. I've told Sir Piers that she's coming, and he's so pleased. Don't let her start too late; it's so bitterly cold and the roads are very bad. I can't send the car in for her, as you know; since the chauffeur was called up, I've no one to drive it. But if you're kind enough to bring her—"