“Delirious, sir? Oh, nonsense! Master’s often like that.”
“Indeed!” said Cousin Thompson, in a tone of voice which made the housekeeper wish she had bitten off her tongue before she had committed herself to such a speech. “You heard him utter that laugh?”
“Well, surely to goodness, sir, that don’t signify anything. A laugh! I wish I could laugh.”
“But he gave a ‘view halloo!’ and said something about a fox.”
“Well, really, sir, what if he did? There’s nothing master likes better after a hard week’s work and a lot of anxiety than a gallop after the hounds. It does him good. Why, a doctor wants taking out of himself sometimes, specially one who works as hard as master does. A medical man’s anxiety sometimes is enough to drive him mad.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” said Cousin Thompson smoothly. “Hadn’t you better knock again?”
“No, sir, I hadn’t,” said Mrs Milt tartly. “I’m quite sure master don’t want to be disturbed.”
“But really, my good woman, it seems to me that he ought to have medical advice.”
“And it seems to me, sir, as he oughtn’t to. If master’s not well and can’t do himself good, nobody else can, I’m sure; and if you please, sir, will you come downstairs? He’d be very angry if we stopped here.”
“Oh, certainly, Mrs Milt. Pray forgive me. I could not help feeling a little bit anxious about my cousin.”