She raised her eyes to his in a look so full of appeal, that he could read it as easily as if she had given it with the interpretation of words.
He was not accustomed to argue in a case like this, but the girl’s loving attempt to protect the insensible man, touched him to the heart; and dropping his sharp, imperious manner, he said gently:
“But, don’t you see? It is to do him good.”
Lydia’s hand trembled, but she still grasped the doctor’s arm.
“Come, come,” he said, smiling. “You must not be alarmed. Do you want the bullet to stay in and irritate the whole length of the wound?”
She gave her head a sharp shake.
“Well, then, be sensible, my dear girl. There, get me a bit of lint,” he continued, “and you shall see how easily and well I will do this. That’s better. Why, taking a tooth out is ten times worse. This is a mere trifle. There, that’s a brave little woman. He will not even feel it.”
Lydia’s hand had dropped from the doctor’s arm, and she drew a long breath, watching him as if her eyes were drawn to his knife, while he bent over Capel.
In a few minutes more the patient was lifted upon the bed, and Lydia stood there with her hands clasped in dread, for it seemed ominous to her that Capel should be compelled to lie there.
“Can he not be taken up to his room?”