“It was so late, you see,” he said apologetically.
“They needn’t have left me this enormous porch to myself. I know they will hate sleeping down there. Can’t Billie come and speak to me?”
“I am afraid he’s sound asleep by now.”
“He?” ejaculated the patient. “But, of course, how could you be expected to know my young cousin by name. She is the tall girl with the gray eyes. I think she is beautiful. Perhaps you might not—but you would—”
The doctor started. He had heard a stealthy step on the porch below.
“You will not think me impertinent if I ask you not to talk?” he said. “Just a few more hours’ quiet and you’ll be quite fit. I’m going to leave you a moment.”
Miss Campbell gave him a good natured smile. She liked his fine face and his clear brown eyes.
“Very well, doctor,” she said. “I see you know your business. I’ll be obedient.”
Taking the lamp he went downstairs.
It could hardly be the gray-eyed Billie and her friends returning, he argued. They would never come creeping back in that stealthy manner.