One evening, about a fortnight after Dr. Fowler's first visit, she was lying on the reclining board in the drawing room, when she heard a rap at the door, and the next moment Percy Armstrong entered. She would have got up to receive him, but he begged her to remain where she was.
"Remember I'm a doctor," he said, "and have due respect for a fellow-doctor's orders." And then he talked so pleasantly that Dora forgot she was feeling wretchedly dull and depressed, and laughed and chatted quite gaily.
"Dora," he said, presently, "I am going to ask you to do me a kindness."
"If I can I will," she replied, for she greatly liked the young doctor, and would have done anything to oblige him. "But you must not forgot I am only a helpless invalid at present."
"All the better, for you'll give my mother the pleasure of looking after you. As you know, she hates to be idle, and is never happy unless she has plenty to do. I am going to send her to Ilfracombe for five or six weeks and I want you to be so good as to go with her and keep her company."
"But—but—" and between surprise, happiness, and a wish to say she couldn't think of letting her friends put themselves to extra expense on her account, she broke down completely.
"Not a word, if you please," said Percy. "I see quite well you are willing to oblige me, and you have only to see that your box is packed, and that you are ready to start at ten o'clock the day after to-morrow. And remember, the pleasure you will have, cannot be greater than my pleasure in being able to give my mother the change of air and scene she needs almost as much as you."
"But mother?" again began Dora.
"She knows, and will be very glad to hear I have had so little trouble in getting you to consent to my scheme."
Dora blushed so painfully that Percy immediately changed the conversation. But he left her very happy, and with the promise that she would be ready to start at the appointed time.