Part 11 (2/2)
”No,” called back Eleanor, scrambling out of the car. ”What is the matter?”
No answer being received, she clutched Quin's sleeve nervously.
”Something has happened! Look, the front hall is full of people. Oh, I'm afraid to go in! I----”
”Steady on!” said Quin, with a firm grip on her elbow as he marched her up the steps and into the hall.
Everything was in confusion. People were hurrying to and fro, doors were slamming, excited voices were asking questions and not waiting for answers. ”What's Dr. Snowden's telephone number?” ”Can't they get another doctor?” ”Has somebody sent for Randolph?” ”Are they going to try to move her?” everybody demanded of everybody else.
Eleanor pushed through the crowd until she reached the foot of the steps.
There, lying on the floor, with her towering white pompadour crushed ignominiously against the newel-post, lay the one person in the house who could have brought prompt order out of the chaos. On one side of her knelt Miss Enid frantically applying smelling salts, while on the other stood Miss Isobel futilely wringing her hands and imploring some one to go for a minister.
Suddenly the buzz of excited talk ceased. Madam was returning to consciousness. She groaned heavily, then opened one eye.
”What's the matter?” she demanded feebly. ”What's all this fuss about?”
”You fell down the steps, mother. Don't get excited; don't try to move.”
But Madam had already tried, with the result that she fell back with a sharp cry of pain.
”Oh, my leg, my leg!” she groaned. ”What are you all standing around like fools for? Why don't you send Tom for the doctor?”
”Tom isn't with us any more, dearest,” said Aunt Enid with trembling rea.s.surance, ”and Dr. Snowden is out of town. But we are trying to get Dr. Bean.”
”I won't have Bean,” Madam declared, clinching her jaw with pain. ”I'll send him away if he comes.”
”Dr. Vaughn, then?” suggested Miss Enid tenderly.
”Vaughn nothing! Send for Rawlins. He's an old stick, but he'll do till Dr. Snowden gets here.”
”But, mother,” protested Miss Isobel. ”Dr. Rawlins lives in the country; he can't get here for half an hour.”
”Do as I tell you and stop arguing,” commanded Madam. ”Has anybody telephoned Ranny?”
The two sisters exchanged significant glances.
”Their line is busy,” said Miss Enid soothingly. ”We will get him soon.”
”I want to be taken upstairs,” announced Madam; ”I want to be put in my own bed.”
A buzz of protest met this suggestion, and a small, nervous man in clerical garb, who had just arrived, came forward to add his voice to the rest.
Madam glared at him savagely. ”There'll be plenty of time for parsons when the doctors get through with me,” she said. ”Tell some of those able-bodied men back there to come here and take me upstairs.”
Quin, who had been standing in the background looking down at the formidable old lady, promptly came forward.
”I'll take you up,” he said. ”Which leg is hurt?”
<script>