“That’s right, Mrs Gee,” said Roberts; “bring it in, and feed him up well, for he wants it, poor fellow!”
“Mr Bracy has everything, sir,” said the woman coldly, “and given him to the minute when there’s no one here.”
“Oh, I’m nobody,” said Roberts good-humouredly.
“No, sir.”
“Eh? Oh, all right; bring in his lunch.—Hang the woman! I didn’t mean that,” he said to himself.
“No, sir; not while you are here,” replied the woman in the most uncompromising way. “Mr Bracy can’t lift his arms yet, and I have to give him his meals, and it troubles him for any one to see him fed.”
“Yes, yes, of course. I ought to have known, Mrs Gee. Where is the lunch?”
“Being kept hot for him, sir.”
“Go and fetch it, then, and I’ll be off the moment you come.”
Mrs Gee said nothing, but turned silently and disappeared, while Roberts rose and leaned over the bed.