The girl put her hand to the key, and without any difficulty drew it out of the door.
“I don’t know—I couldn’t!”
The girl shut the door.
“What’s the matter? Why’s the doctor here? It isn’t——?”
“Yes, sir,” said the girl, with a sort of intensely feminine significance. “It came on quite sudden.”
“How long ago?”
“A good while, sir. I couldn’t say exactly.”
“But why wasn’t I sent for?”
“My mistress wouldn’t have you sent for, sir. Besides, we were expecting you every moment.”
“Ah! and I—and now it’s past midnight.”