When the doctor arrived he was alarmed, until he made an examination.
"He is shamming," thought the family physician. But as the Ruthvens were among his best customers, he said nothing on this point. He left St. John some soothing medicine and a tonic, and said he would call again the next day.
Instead of using the medicine, the young spendthrift threw it out of the window.
"Don't catch me swallowing that stuff," he chuckled to himself. "I am not altogether such a fool."
Several days passed, and nothing of importance happened to disturb those at either of the Ruthven plantations.
But a surprise was in store for Jack and those with whom he lived.
One of the wounded soldiers stopping at Mrs. Alice Ruthven's home was named George Walden. The poor fellow had been shot in the shoulder, a painful as well as a dangerous wound.
For several days he lay speechless, and during that time the Confederate surgeon and Mrs. Ruthven, as well as Marion, did all they could to ease his suffering.
One day George Walden began to speak to Marion.
"You are very good to me," he said. "You are in reality an angel of mercy."