Mrs. Hart, flanked by Mr. Flint and Hetzel, accompanied him to the vestibule. All three did their utmost to thank him adequately for the pains he had taken in their behalf. Returning up-stairs, they were joined by Dr. Letzup.
“Well, doctor?” began Mrs. Hart.
“Well, Mrs. Hart,” the doctor replied, “our friend in the next room has been exciting himself lately, hasn’t he? What he wants now is a trained nurse, soothing medicines, and perfect quiet. The first two I’m going to send around, as soon as I leave the house. For the last, he must depend upon you. That is equivalent to saying that he will have it. Therefore, so far as I can see, you have every reason to be hopeful.”
“What do you take his trouble to be, doctor?” asked Hetzel.
“Oh, I don’t know of any special name for it,” said the doctor. “The poor fellow must have been careless of himself recently—worrying, probably, about something—and then came a shock of one kind or another—collapse of stock he’d been investing in, or what not—and so he went under. We’ll fetch him up again, fast enough. The main thing is to steer him clear of brain fever. I think we can do it. If it turns out that we can’t—if the fever should develop—then, we’ll go to work and pilot him safely through it. Now I must be off. Some one had better stay with him till the nurse comes. Keep him warm—hot water at his feet, you know, and bed-clothes tucked in about his shoulders. When the nurse turns up, she’ll give him his medicines. I’ll call again after dinner.”
Mr. Flint left a little later.
“I suppose I shan’t be of any assistance, but merely in the way, by remaining here. So I’ll go home. But of course you’ll notify me instantly if there should be a change for the worse,” was his valedictory.
After dinner the doctor called, pursuant to his promise. Having visited his patient, and held an interview with the nurse, he beckoned Hetzel to one side.
“Don’t be frightened,” he said, “but I’m afraid it’s going to be brain fever, after all. He’s a little delirious just now, and his temperature is higher than I should like. The nurse will take perfect care of him. You’d better go to bed early and sleep well, so as to be fresh and able to relieve her in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night.”