Marielle only whispered, “I am so glad you have come,” then turning to Mrs. Heritage said, “Mother darling, here is the doctor come to see you.”
An inarticulate effort at speech accompanied by a bewildered look was the only response, and Marielle turned the most piteous of faces to meet the kindly eyes of the young man, saying, “She has been like this for nearly two hours now, and I cannot think what causes it.”
Magnus Duncan beckoned the girl to come a little further away from the invalid while he made a careful examination of the helpless limbs. He could not trust himself to speak at the moment. Her trouble almost unmanned him.
The examination over, the young doctor asked that one of the servants might be told to remain in the sick-room while he had a little talk with Marielle downstairs, and as soon as they reached the little drawing-room he asked, “Tell me just how this began?”
“It began with a cold,” replied Marielle. “I had a slight one on Sunday and was unable to go out, so mother said she would not walk so far as St. Jude’s by herself, but would go to St. Saviour’s instead for once. When she came back she was shivering, and she told me she had been shown into a pew close beside a damp wall. She sneezed violently, she said, so many times that people turned to look at her, and she did not like to attract further attention by coming out. On Monday and Tuesday she got up as usual, but yesterday I persuaded her to stay in bed as her cold was no better, and to-day she became as you see her now. I thought at first that she was only drowsy, then I became very uneasy and sent for you.”
“Have you never seen paralysis before?” asked Magnus gently.
“Oh, no! Oh! it cannot be that, surely. Oh, say it is not that!” Yet as she asked, she knew it must be so, from the pitiful look in the honest eyes that met her own.
How hard it was for Magnus to stand by and witness Marielle’s grief and be obliged to suppress his longing to take her in his arms and comfort her, was a secret that remained locked in his breast.
He impressed upon her the necessity for being brave, and after giving a few directions, took his leave, promising to send a nurse in at once.
It was the beginning of what proved to be a long and trying illness for poor Mrs. Heritage. Indeed at first it seemed a little doubtful whether she would ever recover, but this was during the first week only. After that, the improvement in her condition though very slow was sure, and though it was not likely that she would ever again be so strong and well as formerly, there was every reason to hope that in time she might be able to resume to a great extent her former active life. Magnus Duncan continued to treat the case himself, by common consent. Paralysis was a subject to which he had given special study and attention, and although the older doctor accompanied his son once or twice at first, it was more as a matter of form than anything. It is superfluous to say that every expedient that skill and devotion could bring to bear upon the case was resorted to by the young doctor, and his unceasing efforts were not lost upon either Marielle or the invalid. Both mother and daughter had been from the beginning of the acquaintanceship, strongly attracted towards him. He was so manly and straightforward, so courteous and polite to the weaker sex, yet without being in any way effeminate.