CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
1
TWO weeks elapsed before Mrs. Ogden would consent to any further examination of Milly's lungs. At first she refused on the ground that Milly was only in need of rest, and when Joan persisted, made other excuses, all equally futile. She seemed determined to prevent Doctor Thomas's visit, and it struck Joan that her mother was secretly afraid.
Doctor Thomas was getting old. He had attended the Ogdens as long as Joan could remember. He attended most of the residents of Seabourne, though it was said that the summer visitors preferred a younger man, who had recently made his appearance. Joan herself would have preferred the younger man, but on this point Mrs. Ogden was obdurate; she would not hear of a stranger being called in, protesting that Doctor Thomas would be deeply hurt.
Doctor Thomas came, and rubbed his cold hands briskly together; he smiled at the assembled family as he had smiled on all serious occasions throughout his career. A wooden stethoscope protruded from his tail-pocket; he took it out and balanced it playfully between finger and thumb.
"Let me explain," said Joan peremptorily, as Mrs. Ogden opened her lips to speak.
She had to raise her voice somewhat, for the doctor was a little hard of hearing.
"Eh, what? What was that?" he inquired from time to time.
Milly's lip curled. She shrugged her shoulders and complied with an ill grace when told to remove her blouse.
"Take a deep breath."