"Oh, Arthur, whatever will you do?" exclaimed Molly when, in answer to his "come in," she opened the door and saw him at the looking-glass surveying critically his injured face.
"I shouldn't do for a beauty-show just now, should I?" replied the lad, trying to make a joke of the affair.
"Don't you think Alice had better run for the doctor at once?" said Molly.
Arthur laughed. "That's like a girl," he said. "There's nothing to be afraid of, only we are pretty busy just now, and how am I to get up to the counting-house without being seen? That's the problem, Molly. Mr. Brading would not like to see me go in such a sight as this, I know, but Mr. Bristow would be vexed if I stayed away while there is such a rush of work as we have just now."
"But you can't walk through the streets such a sight as that," protested Molly. "You must write a note, and I will take it down to Mr. Brading."
But Arthur shook his head. "That won't do at all. I would rather pay for a cab than do that. I must hold a pocket-handkerchief up to that side of my face, as though I had got the toothache—" And at this point his elder sister came in and at once declared that he could not go out that day.
"I shall send Alice for some lotion, and you must keep your eye bandaged well to-day, and then you may be able to go out to-morrow."
"Send for the lotion by all means, Annie, and I will use it, but I cannot stay at home, we are too busy."
"But you are such a sight!" said his sister. "What will people think, to see you with such a face?"
"People sha'n't see, and to make sure of this, I will take some sandwiches with me for dinner, and then I need not go into another part of the place until I come home, and I hope I shall be all right to-morrow. I wonder how poor old Ted feels this morning!"