"Oh! no fear of that," replied Helen. "I feel so much better since you told me. Stay!—if you have seen him, he is here. Perhaps in this very inn—tell me!"
"Well, not very far off, I dare say," said Oldstone, cautiously.
"Mr. Oldstone!" cried the girl, "you can hide nothing from me. I know he is here, and I insist upon seeing him."
"My dear! my dear! How can you? Just think! You must wait till you are well enough to get up," protested her friend and counsellor. "Dr. Bleedem will decide all that."
"I want to see him now, this instant."
"What! In your bedroom!" exclaimed Oldstone. "My dear child! It's not proper."
"Then why do you come yourself, and Dr. Bleedem?"
"That is a very different matter? I am an old man, and Dr. Bleedem is your medical attendant," replied the antiquary. "Mr. McGuilp is young—and people might talk."
"Nonsense! If you don't let me see him, I'll make myself ill and die," exclaimed the patient, petulantly.
The antiquary began to be alarmed, but tried to pacify her by saying he would see Dr. Bleedem, and consult with him as to what were best to be done.