“Anybody might think my little girl was a consulting physician,” remarked Mr. Campbell, amused at the earnest conversation the young girl and the great surgeon had plunged into,—and proud, too, that it should be so.
“Oh, they have lots of secrets from us, Mr. Campbell,” replied Richard Hook. “Miss Billie is confidential adviser to the doctor. I don’t believe he takes a step without consulting her first.”
“Wise man,” answered Billie’s father. “He’ll get some good sound advice, if not entirely professional.”
In the meantime, Billie was saying:
“Oh, doctor, what has happened? Is he conscious? Has he spoken? Does he recognize anyone?”
“How could he, child, when there is no one for him to recognize? Recollect that in coming to, the man has taken up the thread of his life of eighteen or twenty years ago. I would not trust him to see Phoebe at this point. Only the faces of strangers are safe for him for the time being.”
“And the stranger never came back who inquired about him that day?”
“No. I told him two weeks would be safer. There is no doubt the man was a personage of some sort. His companion said, ‘Yes, Excellency,’ as they went down the path. I suppose he’s got some kind of a title.”
“Did he seem excited?” asked Billie.
“I could hardly say excited. He appeared a good deal moved by the story of Phoebe and her father. He asked me if any money was needed.”