Apparently not satisfied, he took up the envelope, and placed it in another, after which he wrote upon a sheet of paper:
“Mrs Milt. Place this enclosure in my executors’ hands yourself.”
Then directing the outer envelope to the housekeeper, he smiled with satisfaction, and had just laid it upon the table, duly fastened down, when a faint chink made him turn his head in the direction of the surgery.
North listened, and the faint sound of a bottle touching another was repeated.
He rose and went softly to the door, which was not latched, opened it, and saw a hand dart down that was extended, as he stood face to face with Dally Watlock.
In his surprise North did not speak, for he had been under the impression that he had fastened the door, and this gave the girl time to recover herself.
“Oh, I beg your pardon, sir,” she said, with a smile; “I only pushed that bottle back in its place. It was nearly off the shelf.”
“What do you want?” said North sharply.
“Gran’fa, please sir, said I was to come on and tell you he wanted you.”
“Tell him I can’t come,” said North shortly. “Why did you come here, and not to the front?”