CHAPTER XXVII
THE DOCTOR
As soon as Mrs. Trivett heard the bad news she stopped work, explained to her second in command the gravity of the situation, and hastened home as fast as she could go to Medora. Now or never might her daughter show what she was worth, and she felt that her girl’s place should be beside the sufferer. Duty and love alike prompted in that direction; indeed, Medora herself appeared to view the disaster with her mother’s eyes.
“Good Lord! Lost his stroke! Poor man,” she cried. “I must go to him. Is he ill? Have you seen him? What was the cause of it? Does he say what he’s going to do about it?”
“I haven’t seen him. He’s gone back to the inn, and Mr. Trood takes him into Totnes presently to the doctor. And it’s your place to go along with them in my opinion.”
Medora’s mind moved swiftly. She knew that Kellock was to have seen Ned Dingle on the previous evening, and eagerly she awaited information of what had happened at that meeting. Jordan intended to have come over to Priory Farm after working hours; but now she could hear even sooner than she expected.
“I shan’t leave him if he’s very bad,” said Medora.
“In no case, better or worse, will you leave him,” declared Lydia. “This is a fearful thing to overtake a vatman, and you, of all people, ought to be at his side to cheer him and encourage him and help him to hope. It’s a nervous breakdown along of all this waiting and trouble.”
“More likely the lecture,” suggested Medora. “Small wonder if his lecture is got on his mind and upset him. And he was to see Ned yesterday. Perhaps Ned said something to do it.”
Lydia sighed.