Isaacson's thought was: "What must be the state of the mind which has thus suddenly triumphed over a hitherto triumphant body?" And he felt like a man who looks down into a gulf, and who sees nothing, but hears movements and murmurs of horror and despair.
Mrs. Armine came straight to Isaacson. Her eyes, fastened upon him, seemed to defy him to see the change in her. She smiled and said:
"So you've come again! It's very good of you. Nigel is awake now."
She looked towards Doctor Hartley.
"I hope Doctor Isaacson will be able to reassure you," she said. "You frightened me this afternoon. I don't think you quite realized what it is to a woman to have sprung upon her so abruptly such an alarming view of an invalid's condition."
"But I didn't at all mean—" began the young doctor in agitation.
"I don't know what you meant," she interrupted, "but you alarmed me dreadfully. Well, are you going to see my husband together?"
"Yes, we must do that," said Isaacson.
He was slightly surprised by her total lack of all further opposition to the consultation, although he had almost prophesied it to Hartley. Perhaps he had prophesied to reassure himself, for now he was conscious of a certain rather vague sense of doubt and of uneasiness, such as comes upon a man who, without actually suspecting an ambush, wonders whether, perhaps, he is near one.
"I dare say you would rather I was not present at your consultation?" said Mrs. Armine.