The words jarred on Neil, and he glanced quickly at the nurse, to see that there was a pained look in her eyes, but it passed off as she saw that she was observed.
“Well, when do you expect him?” said Mr Elthorne.
“Almost directly, sir.”
“And why was I not told?”
“For fear of agitating you, and setting you brooding over it. Besides, I was not sure when he would come down.”
“Humph! Well, don’t treat me as if I were a child, boy. I can think if I can’t walk. And I must be got out now. Has that chair come down?”
“Yes.”
“That’s right. I’ll be carried down on Friday when my girls come. If they call before then they are to be brought up. No, no; I know what you are going to say—that they will talk too much. It will do me good to hear Saxa’s chatter and Dana’s prattle. When did you see them last?”
In spite of himself Neil glanced at the nurse as he answered:
“I hardly know. On Sunday, I think.”