"I'll bring her fast enough, if she'll let me," said the doctor. "Anyhow, she shall come, which is the point. She said at once that she'd come."
"Yes," said Joanna dryly. "You won't expect me to be enthusiastic at such condescension, will you?"
The doctor looked at her with concern evident in his shrewd, kindly gaze.
He had known Joanna Vivian ever since she had come to Plessing as a bride, and had never heard that note of bitterness in her voice before. He told himself sadly that the long strain of Sir Piers's illness was telling on her at last, in spite of her splendid physique. In his heart the doctor did not believe that the strain would last much longer.
"I wish you had some one here to keep you company," he said awkwardly. "Even Miss Bruce was better than no one."
"She's only with Char for a few days. She'll soon be back, probably tomorrow. And meanwhile I had an offer of companionship only this morning. Do you know Mrs. Willoughby?"
"Good Lord, yes!" said the doctor, and they both laughed.
"I should really like Char's Miss Jones to come out to me for a few days," said Joanna, rather wistfully. "She and I understand one another very well, and she's such a restful person."
"A thoroughly nice girl, and most intelligent," warmly remarked the doctor, reflecting how sympathetic Miss Jones had shown herself to be over the question of Medical Boards. "Why shouldn't I bring her out with Miss Charmian on Thursday night?"
"I only wish you would, but I don't want to throw Char into a fit."