"I shall mind it no more than you, Frank," I said. "I am still a young man."
We climbed three staircases, and stood on the upper landing.
"I'll go in and tell mother I have brought a doctor," said Frank. "Just wait here a minute."
He opened a door and entered. He came out again almost immediately. He was followed by a woman of perhaps forty, with a pleasant face, but looking very sad.
"Welcome, doctor," she said. "Frank tells me you were kind enough to offer us your services."
"Yes, I am glad to do what I can for you."
"This is my daughter. I feel very much worried about her."
The daughter lay on a bed in an inner room (there were but two). She was pale and looked ill-nourished, but in spite of the delicacy of her appearance, she was pretty.
"Alice, this is the doctor," said her mother. Alice opened her eyes languidly, and tried to smile.