Thereupon I ascended to my lady’s chamber, which I entered as diffidently and reverentially as though such visits were not the commonplace of my professional life. As I approached the bed she heaved a little sigh of content and murmured:
“What a fortunate girl I am! To be petted and cared for and pampered in this way! Arabella is a perfect angel, and you, Dr. Gray⸺”
“Oh, Marion!” I protested. “Not Dr. Gray.”
“Well, then, Stephen,” she corrected, with a faint blush.
“That is better. And what am I?”
“Never mind,” she replied, very pink and smiling. “I expect you know. If you don’t, ask Arabella when you go down.”
“I expect she will do most of the asking,” said I. “And I have strict orders not to stop to gossip, so let me see the bandages, and then I must go.”
I made my inspection without undue hurry, and, having seen that all was well, I took her hand.
“You are to stay here until I have seen you to-morrow morning, and you are to be a good girl and try not to think of unpleasant things.”
“Yes; I will do everything that you tell me.”