“Your mistress in!” said the doctor.
“Yes, sir, in the drawing-room, sir.”
“Hah!” ejaculated the doctor.
“Found him, sir? And brought him back!” cried a familiar voice; and Mrs Millett hurried into the hall. “O you bold, bad boy!” she cried. “How dare you? And you never took your medicine that night. Oh, for shame! for shame!”
“Hush, hush, Mrs Millett!” said the doctor sternly. “That will do.”
He signed to the old lady, and she left the hall, but turned to shake her head at the returned culprit as she went, while Maria gave him a meaning smile as soon as the doctor’s back was turned, and then passed through the baize door.
The doctor stood there silent and frowning for a few minutes, with his eyes fixed upon the floor, while Dexter awaited his sentence, painfully conscious, and longing for the doctor to speak and put him out of his misery.
“Now, sir,” he said at last; “you had better go in and speak to Miss Grayson. She is waiting, I suppose, to see you in that room. I sent word we were coming.”
“No, no,” said Dexter quickly. “Don’t send me in there, sir. You’d better send me back to the school, sir. I’m no good, and shall only get into trouble again; please send me back. I shouldn’t like to see Miss Grayson now.”
“Why not!” said the doctor sternly.