"Don't excite yourself so; yes, yes, she is out of all danger, humanly speaking. I see no reason why she should not quite recover. Of course her condition complicates matters a little, but, as far as one can judge, she is going on very well indeed."
Everest stared at him.
"Her condition? But she was in splendid health when this happened!"
The doctor stared in his turn.
"Health? Oh yes, but I was alluding to her state—being enceinte, I mean."
Everest paled till he was whiter than the drill he was wearing.
"Is it so?" he asked, after a second's blank gaze at the not too friendly face regarding him, "and she—did she know it herself?"
"Oh yes; I should think so, undoubtedly. Yes, I know she did, for the first thing she asked me when we were alone was, would all this make any difference to the child."
"And what did you say?" Everest asked, with difficulty; his throat seemed dry; a cramp stretched round his heart.
"I told her no one could say, but quite possibly it would make no difference since it was so near the beginning."