"A splendid morning," said he. "Health flows from the skies. Let the windows remain open all day. As soon as they hitch the horses, I shall return to the city for I have patients who cannot wait. But I will come back in the evening and bring a nurse for our wounded friend."
After which, addressing Miss Anney, he said:
"Only do not let it get into your head to drive for me, alone. The injured man is getting along nicely--a slight fever, very slight. I will see Pani Krzycki before I leave. Do not let her leave her bed all day, and let her nieces watch her. To you, sir, I recommend the bed. It is permissible to inhale but not to breathe one's last breath. Ha! I will return about five in the evening, unless indeed, I am forced on the road to swallow a few pills from the socialist pharmacy. That is a stylish medicine and, it must be confessed, acts quickly."
"How is Mother?" asked Ladislaus in alarm.
At this the doctor again turned to Miss Anney.
"Order him to lie quiet for he will not mind me. Your mother has more than fifteen years. Yesterday she started up suddenly, forgetting her rheumatism and weak heart action, laid you in bed, waited for my arrival; was present at the dressing, and after learning that there was no danger--at once! bah!--it was necessary to put her to bed. That is always the way with our women. But nothing is the matter with your mother; the usual reaction after a nervous strain. When she came to herself, I ordered her to remain in bed and not to appear here under the penalty of death--for you. With that, I restrained her. Otherwise she would have stuck here all night. Now your filigree cousins are watching her. They also almost turned topsyturvy; then I would have had four patients in one house. That would be a harvest--ha? Luckily there was to be found in this house one soul with different nerves, who did not swoon poetically. Ha!"
"How he is chattering," thought Ladislaus.
But the doctor began to gaze with great respect at Miss Anney and continued:
"Rule Britannia! It is a pleasure to look at you, as I love God! What health, what nerves! She sat up all night until the morning,--and nothing! As if she freshly shook the dew off herself! I repeat once more, it is a pleasure to behold you. I am going to the dining-room to see if they will not give me some coffee before I leave, for I am hungry."
But before he left he said to Miss Anney and her maid: