“She wanted to kill herself because of what he told her about Guy,” he said. “There was no other reason.”
Then the doctor came, and they all stood in tense expectancy and mingled dread and hope while he made his examination. Carefully and deliberately the old doctor worked, outwardly as calm and unaffected as if he were treating a minor injury to a stranger; yet his heart was as heavy as theirs, for he had brought Eva into the world, and had known and loved her all her brief life.
At last he straightened up, to find their questioning eyes upon him.
“She still lives,” he said, but there was no hope in his voice.
“I have sent for Carruthers,” said the colonel. “He is on his way now. He told Custer that he’ll be here in less than three hours.”
“I arranged to have a couple of nurses sent out, too,” said Custer.
Dr. Baldwin made no reply.
“There is no hope?” asked the colonel.
“There is always hope while there is life,” replied the doctor; “but you must not raise yours too high.”
They understood him, and realized that there was very little hope.