“Humph! your sister is not,” said the doctor dryly.
“No, my sister is not,” said the old man slowly.
“Then, now, Mr Vine, if you please, I am going to ask you people to go.”
“Go?” said Vine, in angry remonstrance.
“Yes; you can do nothing. No change is likely to take place, perhaps for days, and with Miss Van Heldre for nurse and Crampton to act as my help if necessary, there will be plenty of assistance here. What I want most is quiet.”
“Harry, take Louise home,” said the old man quickly.
“And you will go with them, sir?”
“No,” said Vine quietly. “If I lay in my room stricken down, John Van Heldre would not leave me, Knatchbull, and I am not going to leave him. Good night, my children. Go at once.”
“But, Madelaine, father.”
“I shall tell her when she comes down that you were driven away, but I shall send for you to relieve her as soon as I may.”