Part 69 (1/2)
But Beth was no weakling and when the doctor came into her room some time later, the effects of her potion wearing away, she awoke to full consciousness. He saw the imploring question in her eyes, before he took her pulse and answered it with a quick smile.
”He's all right. Heart coming on nicely----”
”Will h-he live?” she gasped.
”He'll be a fool if he doesn't.”
”What----?”
”I'd be, if I knew there was a girl like you in the next room with that kind of look in her eyes asking for me.”
But his remark went over Beth's head.
”He's better?”
”Yes. Conscious too. But he'll have to be kept quiet.”
”D-did he speak of me?”
The doctor was taking her pulse and put on a professional air which hid his inward smiles and provoked a repet.i.tion of her question.
”D-did he?” she repeated softly.
”Oh, yes,” he said with a laugh. ”He won't talk of anything else. I had to give him a hypodermic to make him stop.”
Beth was silent for a moment. And then timidly----
”What did he say?”
”Oh, just that you saved his life, that's all.”
”Nothing else?”
”Oh, yes. Now that I come to think of it, he did.”
”What?”
”That he wanted to see you.”
”Oh! And can I----?”
The doctor snapped his watch and relinquished her wrist with a smile.
”If everything goes well--to-morrow--for two minutes--just two minutes, you understand.”
”Not until to-morrow?” she asked ruefully.
”You ought to be glad to see him alive at all. He had a narrow shave of it. An inch or two lower----” And then with a smile, ”But he's going to get well, I promise you that.”
”Oh, thanks,” said Beth gratefully.