“Because she went out walking in ridiculous high-heeled low shoes, with fancy stockings.”
“Well, Henry, how tiresomely prolix you are!”
“Well, that’s all, my dear, only that the leeches fastened on her feet and ankles.”
“And did Mr Perowne send for you to take them off?”
“Well, not exactly, my dear, they pulled them off themselves; but one bite would not stop bleeding, and I had to apply a little pad on the instep—wonderfully pretty little ankles and insteps, my dear, when the stockings are off.”
“Doctor Bolter!” exclaimed the little lady in so severe a tone of voice that the subject of Helen Perowne was dismissed, and the culprit allowed to go to his little surgery to see to the compounding of some medicines necessary for his sick.