Part 30 (1/2)

She shrank from her, s.h.i.+elding herself behind Michael's shoulder.

”No, Michael, no!” she repeated. ”I'm going to be taken away from you.

And look, Miss--ah, my dear, I have forgotten your name--look, she has got no hat on. She was going to stop with me a long time. Michael, must I go?”

Michael saw the nurse looking at her, watching her with that quiet eye of the trained attendant.

Then she spoke to Michael.

”Well, if Lord Comber will just step outside with me,” she said, ”we'll see if we can arrange for you to stop a little longer.”

”And you'll come back, Michael,” said she.

Michael saw that the nurse wanted to say something to him, and with infinite gentleness disentangled the clinging of Lady Ashbridge's hand.

”Why, of course I will,” he said. ”And won't you give Miss Falbe another cup of tea?”

Lady Ashbridge hesitated a moment.

”Yes, I'll do that,” she said. ”And by the time I've done that you will be back again, won't you?”

Michael followed the nurse from the room, who closed the door without shutting it.

”There's something I don't like about her this evening,” she said. ”All day I have been rather anxious. She must be watched very carefully. Now I want you to get her to come upstairs, and I'll try to make her go to bed.”

Michael felt his mouth go suddenly dry.

”What do you expect?” he said.

”I don't expect anything, but we must be prepared. A change comes very quickly.”

Michael nodded, and they went back together.

”Now, mother darling,” he said, ”up you go with Nurse Baker. You've been out all day, and you must have a good rest before dinner. Shall I come up and see you soon?”

A curious, sly look came into Lady Ashbridge's face.

”Yes, but where am I going to?” she said. ”How do I know Nurse Baker will take me to my own room?”

”Because I promise you she will,” said Michael.

That instantly rea.s.sured her. Mood after mood, as Michael saw, were pa.s.sing like shadows over her mind.

”Ah, that's enough!” she said. ”Good-bye, Miss--there! the name's gone again! But won't you sit here and have a talk to Michael, and let him show you over the house to see if you like it against the time--Oh, Michael said I mustn't worry you about that. And won't you stop and have dinner with us, and afterwards we can sing.”

Michael put his arm around her.

”We'll talk about that while you're resting,” he said. ”Don't keep Nurse Baker waiting any longer, mother.”

She nodded and smiled.

”No, no; mustn't keep anybody waiting,” she said. ”Your father taught me to be punctual.”