“Try a whiff of this, then.” He passed her a bottle of salts. “I was allowed to revive myself with it when my doctors had been investigating the inside of my knee a little more closely than was pleasant.”
“Oh, don’t!” cried Mabel faintly. “I never want to hear a doctor mentioned again.”
“Why, what has happened? Has Mrs North turned vivisectionist?”
“No, of course not. It was only that I was helping her with her patients, and they had such awful things the matter with them that I—well, I ran away.”
“And very wisely. Do I understand that Mrs North required you to expose yourself to the sight of these horrors? It is monstrous!”
“She didn’t ask me to come; I offered to help her.”
“In the hope of pleasing her, of course. It is all the same. In the abundant strength of mind and body she possesses, she forgets that other people are more delicately organised than herself. I am amazed at her lack of consideration.”
“I won’t have you say such things about Georgia!” cried Mabel. “She is the best and dearest woman I know.”
“I honour your enthusiasm. Pray don’t mistake me. I have the highest possible esteem myself for Mrs North, but she is a little too strenuous for my taste.”
“I wouldn’t have her the least bit different. I wish I was like her, instead of being so silly and cowardly.”