“Yes, she could,” said the Earl, roused by this injustice.
There was a moment’s silence, then his wrist was firmly held, and the strange voice said, directly above him: “Oh, so your lordship is awake, eh? That is very well, and we shall soon have you feeling more the thing .... My lord, Miss Morville and I are old colleagues, and I know her to be equal to anything. You need not fear to leave the patient in our hands .... That table, if you please, my man — what’s your name? Turvey? Very good, set it there, and the bowl upon it. Now, my lord, I am afraid I must hurt you a trifle — just a trifle!”
It soon became apparent to the Earl that the stranger had grossly understated the case. The hurt he began to inflict upon his patient was considerable enough first to wrench a groan from him, and then to make him grip his underlip resolutely between his teeth. He was just wondering how long he could endure when a pang, sharper than the rest, took from him all power of resistance, and he felt himself to be falling into an upsurging darkness, and lost consciousness.
He came round to find that he was once again being commanded to drink. He obeyed, and was lowered on to his pillows, and heard a cheerful voice say: “There! You have nothing to do now but to go to sleep, my lord. I shall come to see you in the morning, and I expect to find you much more comfortable.”
“Thank you,” murmured the Earl, wishing that he might be left in peace.
The wish was granted. Silence fell, broken only by the rattle of curtain-rings, drawn along the rods, and the crackle of the fire burning in the hearth.
When the Earl opened his eyes again, it was to shaded lamplight. He saw Miss Morville rise from a chair beside the fire, and cross the room towards him, and said faintly: “Good heavens, what o’clock is it?”
“I have no very exact notion, my lord, but it doesn’t signify,” she answered, laying her hand across his brow. She glanced towards the door leading into the dressing-room, which stood open, and said: “Yes, his lordship is awake, Turvey. If you will come in, I will go and prepare the broth for him.”
“The housekeeper desired me to tell you, madam, that she should not go to bed, and would hold herself in readiness to prepare whatever might be needed.”
“Thank you, I will go to her,” Miss Morville said.