“It’s against all rules,” ejaculated the little Sister.
Miss Blair addressed herself to the young doctor.
“Kindly take me to the room,” she said.
The abashed young fellow looked from one to the other. But he started. The little Sister, however, hastily interposing herself between Miss Blair and progress, was heard to murmur that name of authority—the Mother.
“Go and bring her,” said Harriet.
The Sister departed in haste, to return speedily with the Mother, her calm face beneath its bands mild, benignant, but inexorable.
“But I am,” returned Harriet to anything she could say. “I am going to him.”
The dominant calmness of the Mother had met its equal. Finally, in her turn, she retreated behind authority and mentioned Father Ryan.
“Oh,” said Harriet, “go and bring him.”
He came, heavy of jowl, keen and humorous of eye, but his manner disturbed, distraught, as with one whose absorption is elsewhere. Suddenly Harriet remembered that he was the intimate, the friend of Major Rathbone.