“Take these ladies away somewhere; their talking disturbs the patient.”
“Well, I’m sure!” cried Saxa with a laugh full of annoyance. “But we will not trouble Sir Cheltnam; we know our way back.”
“Here’s someone else coming who will be more civil, perhaps,” said Dana to herself, as Isabel, followed by half the household, came hurrying back.
Alison was returning too, with some of the stablemen and gardeners bearing a light iron gate and the mattress, with the result that the sufferer was borne carefully back to the house.
“I say, Elthorne, though,” said Sir Cheltnam, as they followed behind; “no offence to your brother, who is, I dare say, clever enough,—I forgot that he was a doctor,—hadn’t you better send to the town for the best man they’ve got? I’m afraid your old gov’nor has come off badly.”
“Neil will know,” replied Alison. “He will do what is right.”
“Oh, very well; I only suggested; but I say, hadn’t you better make a bit of a clearance? So many people about must be bad for the patient.”
Alison looked at him curiously, but he said nothing, though the idea did occur to him that it would be satisfactory if his friend were to ride off in company with the Misses Lydon.
“How is he, Neil? What do you think of him?” said Alison, after quietly watching his brother for some time.
“Bad,” said Neil laconically. “I can say nothing yet for certain.”