A little later, a servant brought her a breakfast-tray with a message from the master of the house to the effect that he hoped she would go to bed and take a long rest.
It was excellent advice, and she acted upon it; for since the worst strain was over, sleep had become an urgent necessity to her. She wondered as she lay down if Nick were following the same course. She hoped he was, for she had a curiously vivid memory of the lines that sleeplessness had drawn about his eyes.
It was late afternoon when she awoke, and sat swiftly up with a confused sense of being watched.
"Don't jump like that!" a gruff voice said. "Lie down again at once.
You are not to get up till to-morrow morning."
She turned with a shaky laugh of welcome to find Dr. Jim seated frowning by her side. He laid a compelling hand upon her shoulder.
"Lie down again, do you hear? There's nothing for you to do. Olga is much better, and doesn't want you."
"And Nick?" said Muriel.
They were the first words that occurred to her. She said them hurriedly, with heightened colour.
Jim Ratcliffe frowned more than ever. He was feeling her pulse. "A nice couple of idiots you are!" he grimly remarked. "You needn't worry about Nick. He has gone for a ride. As soon as he comes back, he will dine and go to bed."
"Can't I get up to dinner?" Muriel suggested.