But the doctor was not to be interested so easily this afternoon. “I need change,” he declared irritably. “Unless I can get some definite change I don’t see when I shall be about again.” He puckered up his brow in a way that his nurse could not bear to see.
“Dr. Moore said he’d come in this evening,” she remarked comfortingly; “he’ll be sure to sit up here and smoke, and he’ll be company for you.”
“Moore!” exclaimed the pessimistic patient. “He’s got my work to do as well as his own. He’ll be the next to break down.”
Gretta was in despair, and, welcoming any diversion from the subject ever uppermost in the doctor’s mind, exclaimed with surprise as the tinkle of the front-door bell was heard from below.
“I wonder who that is?” she remarked when Ann’s steps were heard mounting the stairs.
“Probably a bill,” declared the doctor, in disconsolate tones. “I don’t know how——”
Tap, tap, came at the bedroom door, and the maid’s voice was heard outside. “Miss Gretta, you’re wanted.”
“I won’t be a second, dad,” said the nurse; she ran into the passage, in her eagerness nearly falling over Ann.
“Whatever is it?” she whispered.
“Such a nice gentleman! As tall as tall! And that broad! And he’s asking for you, miss!”