“Listen, Victor,” she said, speaking in a quick, firm voice. “It is almost impossible to get a nurse in time and quite impossible to get one skilled in this sort of case. Come for me. I shall be ready and shall take charge. Tell Dr. Meredith I am quite free.”
“All right. Lose no time.”
“Oh, what is it, Adrien?” said Patricia, wringing her hands. “Is it Jack? Or Victor?”
Adrien caught her by the shoulders: “Patricia, I want your help. No talk! Come with me. I will tell you as I dress.”
Swiftly, with no hurry or flurry, Adrien changed into her uniform, packed her bag, giving Patricia meantime the story of the tragedy which she had heard over the telephone.
“And to think it might have been Jack,” said Patricia, wringing her hands. “Oh, dear, dear Annette. Can't I help in some way, Adrien?”
“Patricia, listen to me, child. The first thing is keep your head. You can help me greatly. You will take charge here and later, perhaps, you can help me in other ways. Meantime you must assume full responsibility for them all here. Much depends on you!”
The girl stood gazing with wide-open blue eyes at her sister. Then quietly she answered:
“I'll do my best, Adrien. There's Vic.” She rushed swiftly downstairs. Suddenly she stopped, steadied her pace, and received him with a calm that surprised that young man beyond measure.
“Adrien is quite ready, Vic,” she said.