The front door banged, and Lloyd Pryor pushed aside the curtain.—William had wondered what Martha would say to a curtain instead of a door! His blank panic as he heard the doctor's last word, turned his face white. ("Bad heart?" William asked himself.)
"Dr. King! Alice, you needn't wait."
Alice, nodding pleasantly, left them, and her father, setting his teeth, looked out through his curling eyelashes with deadly intentness.
"Thought I'd come in and say how-do-you-do?" William King said, hungry and friendly, but a little bewildered.
"Oh," said Mr. Pryor.
William put out his hand; there was a second's hesitation, then Lloyd
Pryor took it—and dropped it quickly.
"All well?" the doctor asked awkwardly.
"Yes; yes. All well. Very well, thank you. Yes."
"I was just passing. I thought perhaps your sister would be pleased if
I inquired; she didn't know I was coming, but—"
"You are very kind, I'm sure," the other broke in, his face relaxing.
"I am sorry that just at this moment I can't ask you to stay, but—"