"And how did you find the doctor and all of them?" asked Mrs. Errington of her son, when they were all seated at the tea-table.
"Oh, the doctor's all right. He only came in for a few minutes after morning school."
"What did he say to you, Algy?"
"Oh, I don't know: something about not altogether neglecting my studies now I had left school, whatever path in life I chose. He always says that sort of thing, you know," answered Algernon carelessly.
"And Mrs. Bodkin?"
"Oh, she's all right, too."
"And Minnie?"
"Oh, she's all—no; she was not quite so well as usual, I think. Mrs. Bodkin said she had had a bad attack of pain in the night. But Minnie didn't mention it. She never likes to be condoled with and pitied, you know. So of course I didn't say anything. It's so unpleasant to have to keep noticing people's health!"
"Poor thing!" said Mrs. Errington. "What a misfortune for that girl to be a helpless invalid for the rest of her life!"
"Is her disorder incurable?" asked Mr. Diamond.