Part 13 (1/2)

CHAPTER XI

VIOLETS

”And to his eye There was but one beloved face on earth And that was s.h.i.+ning on him.”--BYRON.

Punctually at five o'clock Philippa walked out of her room and along the corridor. She was so perfectly familiar with the plan of the house by this time, that there was no likelihood of her mistaking the way which led to the room which she had only discovered by such a slight and, after all, very natural accident on a former occasion.

At the door she found Doctor Gale awaiting her. He came to meet her, scanning her appearance closely.

The girl had put on a soft, light gown, and in her breast, as once before, she had fastened the bunch of violets with the little pearl heart brooch. She had debated in her own mind as to whether she should put on the ring which she had found in the dispatch-box--as to whether it was necessary to dress the part with such a strict regard for detail; but a strong disinclination urged her against it, and yet at the time she had wondered why such a small thing should be so against the grain when others so much more important were unconsidered. It was very like the proverbial ”straining at a gnat to swallow a camel.” Be this as it might, she had replaced the ring where she found it and locked the box again.

”The likeness is extraordinary,” muttered the doctor, half to himself.

He seemed nervous and ill at ease, as he opened the door of the sitting-room and preceded Philippa.

”I will go first if you will allow me,” he said.

A screen had been placed at the entrance, and it was not until she had pa.s.sed round it that Philippa realised she was in the presence of the man she had come to see. The sofa had been drawn forward and he was lying on it, propped up with pillows. The nurse was sitting beside him.

”I have redeemed my promise,” said the doctor cheerfully. ”I have brought Miss Harford to see you. But she must only stay a few minutes, and less than that if you don't obey orders and keep quiet.”

It struck Philippa that he was speaking in order to give her time to decide on her first words, and needlessly so, for she was conscious of no trace of nervousness. She was looking straight at Francis, whose eyes were fixed upon her with the look of joy and welcome she had seen in them before, as she stepped quickly forward.

”Ah!” she said, ”I did not expect to see you on the sofa. It must mean that you are better.”

She spoke quite simply, and with just the warmth of manner one would use to an intimate friend under similar circ.u.mstances.

He held out his hands and she laid both hers in his. Then she turned and thanked the nurse who had vacated her chair, and sat down beside the couch.

Dr. Gale was addressing the nurse. ”Go out and take a walk,” he was saying. ”I thought we should have rain this morning, but now the clouds have disappeared and the sun is s.h.i.+ning.”

As they left the room together, Francis raised Philippa's hands and kissed them, first one and then the other.

”The clouds have disappeared, and the sun is s.h.i.+ning,” he repeated softly; ”for you are here. Oh, my sweet! what it is to see you again!”

”You are really feeling better?” she asked.

”Ever so much stronger,” he a.s.sured her, ”and the sight of you will complete the cure. I ought to be well shaken for giving you such a lot of trouble and anxiety, oughtn't I? But I'll make up for it, my darling; I promise I will. Give me just a little time to get quite well and strong; I shall not be a bother for long. Old Rob says he can make a job of me. Then you shall see what care I will take of you.

You are looking thinner. It must have been a dull time for you, but we'll make up for it all by and by.”

”You mustn't think of anything except getting well again,” she said.

”You will stay here?” he asked, with a note of anxiety in his voice.

”The doctor said I might stay a few minutes.”

”I don't mean that--I mean, you will stay at Bessacre.”