Tom laughed. "The noise does no harm, Nellie. Yes, in my opinion Peter Perry's a coward. And fancy a boy as big as I am promising not to go out alone! Ah, I haven't told you about that!"
"No. Tell me, Tom, do."
He repeated the snatch of conversation he had overheard when passing Halcyon Villa on his way home, whilst she listened with amazement.
"That does seem very strange," she remarked, "for he looks quite able to take care of himself, doesn't he? Perhaps he gave his aunt the promise to please her, because she wished it; if that was it of course it was very nice and kind of him."
"Oh, very!" Tom replied sarcastically. Then he quickly changed the conversation by telling his sister of his visit to Hatwell Green, and made her laugh about Zingra and Tim, concluding with: "I do wish you had been with me, Nellie!"
Nellie wished so, too, but she did not say so, only heaved a deep, deep sigh. At that minute Mrs. Burford appeared at the back door of the house, and called to her little daughter to come in and see Dr. Brewer.
"May I come as well, Mother?" requested Tom, for he was eager to hear the doctor's opinion of Nellie.
"No, Tom," she answered; adding, "I do not expect Dr. Brewer will keep Nellie long."
So Tom remained in the yard, feeling very anxious, and tormenting himself by the fear that the doctor might discover there was something really seriously amiss with his sister. A quarter of an hour dragged by, then Nellie, looking, to his intense joy and relief, smiling and hopeful, returned.
"Dr. Brewer says he believes he has thought of something which will make me quite strong again," she informed him gleefully; "but I shan't have it just yet because he has to write about it—send away for it, I suppose."