“I will go with you at once,” answered the man, gulping down a last mouthful of coffee.
You will perhaps be surprised that even Billie’s confiding nature permitted her to engage this strange physician to see her friends; but the young girl had a keen perception for honest dark eyes and lips that met in a resolute line. Indeed, she felt herself liking this Mr. Kalisch so much that even before they reached the stateroom she was inspired with confidence in his powers.
“Here they are,” she said, leading him into the presence of her stricken friends. It was difficult to stand up straight with the rocking of the ship, and the small shaggy-haired man braced himself against the side of the berth and felt Miss Campbell’s pulse.
“You feel quite ill, madam?” he asked.
“Quite,” she answered faintly, opening her eyes and closing them again wearily.
“You have some pain?”
“No,” she replied, looking at the doctor again and this time keeping the lids apart as the strange dark eyes held her attention.
It seemed to Billie almost a minute that he stood looking into the depths of her cousin’s eyes. Then he took out of his pocket a small case containing little bottles, like those of homeopathic doctors.
“I’m going to give you a little pill,” he said. “You will sleep an hour after taking it and you will wake up refreshed and well, ready to eat some breakfast and go out on deck.”
Opening a narrow box in the case he took out a brown pill which Miss Campbell promptly swallowed. Then she turned over on her side and dropped off to sleep.