The two men looked at her in alarm.
“Is she worse?” asked Mr. Petersen.
“She’ll soon be better,” answered the nurse, with a smile.
Mr. Petersen caught her arm as she was going.
“You don’t mean—it’s beginning now?” he asked. “I thought—three weeks more at least——?”
The nurse smiled again.
“I shouldn’t be surprised!” she said.
Mr. Petersen felt utterly frightened and helpless. He looked about in vain for comfort, saw only the very professional nurse, and Alec, more alarmed than himself.
“Will it be—bad?” he asked the nurse, but she went hurrying upstairs again. He followed her, but wasn’t allowed to come into the room.
“You’ll only make her nervous,” the nurse told him, severely. “You must be sensible now, Mr. Petersen, and not worry me. I’ve got my hands full!”