They were waiting for Roddy to come back from the doctor's. Before Uncle Victor left Morfe he had made Roddy promise that for Mamma's satisfaction he would go and be overhauled. And it was as if he had said "You'll see then how much need there is to worry."
You might have kept on hoping that something would happen to prevent Roddy's going but for the size and solidity and expensiveness of the preparations. You might forget that his passage was booked for the first Saturday in March, that to-day was the first Wednesday, that Victor's two hundred pounds had been paid to Jem Alderson's account at the bank in Montreal, and still the black jennet lining of the overcoat shouted at you that nothing could stop Roddy's going now. Uncle Victor might be reckless, but Uncle Edward and Aunt Bella took no risks.
Unless, after all, Dr. Kendal stopped it—if he said Roddy mustn't go.
She could hear Roddy's feet coming back. They sounded like Mark's feet on the flagged path outside.
He came into the room quickly. His eyes shone, he looked pleased and excited.
Mamma stirred in her chair.
"That's a bright face. We needn't ask if you've got your passport," she said.
He looked at her, a light, unresting look.
"How right you are," he said. "And wise."
"Well, I didn't suppose there was much the matter with you."