There was terror in her face now, an instinctive terror that she understood as little as he did.
“Don’t! You frighten me!” She trembled, pale and distressed. “I—I don’t know why, but I am afraid.”
She did not answer, but stood there, a queer, thoughtful, puzzled expression on her face; and before he could ask her any more questions they heard Mrs. Mooney and Nellie as they passed down the hall, and a moment after Dr. Crossett and Dr. Barnhelm entered, smiling happily.
“She is going to be all right, that little Nellie,” announced Dr. Crossett gleefully as a boy might have done. “Ah! Sometimes it is a very fine thing to be alive!”
“Doctor,” said Maria, standing in the open door, “Jane says she’d like to have a chance to wash up before breakfast.”
“Come!” The Doctor, who had quite forgotten dinner in his joy over his friend’s confidence in Nellie’s recovery, looked at Maria remorsefully.
“All right, Maria, we are quite ready.”
“We will need more ice in these cocktails,” said John. “Will you help me, Maria?”
They left the room together and Dr. Crossett went to Lola and offered her his arm.