“‘But it must have been of consequence,’ I heard Pia say. ‘Have you seen a doctor?’
“‘There was no need,’ returned the man.
“Then I heard Pia’s voice, impulsive and a little bit impatient. She evidently had not seen me in the church, and thought no one was there.
“‘But there is need. Why don’t you go and see Doctor Hilary?’
“‘I am not ill enough to need doctors, Madam,’ returned the man.
“‘But you are,’ returned Pia, in the way that she insists when she is very anxious about anything.
“I heard the man give a little laugh.”
“‘It is exceedingly good of you to trouble concerning me,’ he said, ‘and I really don’t know why you should.’
“‘Oh,’ said Pia quickly, ‘you need not be afraid that I, personally, wish to interfere with you again. You made it quite plain to me months ago that you had no smallest wish for me to do so. But, speaking simply as one human being to another, as complete and entire strangers, even, I do ask you to see a doctor.’
“Then there was a moment’s silence.”