Part 57 (1/2)
The little girl listened to him, and as she listened a new and wonderful strength was given to her. At that instant Evelyn Wynford ceased to be a child. She was never a child any more. The suffering and the shock had been too mighty; they had done for her what perhaps nothing else could ever do-they had awakened her slumbering soul.
How she lived through the remainder of that day she could never tell to any one. No one saw her in the Squire's sitting-room. No one wanted the room; no one went near it. Audrey was back again at the Castle, comforting her mother and trying to help her. When she spoke of Evelyn, Lady Frances shuddered.
”Don't mention her,” she said. ”She had the impertinence to rush into the room; but she also had the grace to--”
”What, mother?”
”She was really fond of her uncle, Audrey; I always said so. She fainted-poor, miserable girl-when she saw the state he was in.”
But Lady Frances did not know of Evelyn's confession to the young doctor; nor did Dr. Watson tell any one.
It was late and the day had pa.s.sed into night when the doctor came in and sat down by Evelyn's side.
”Now,” he said, ”you have been good, and have kept your word, and have obliterated yourself.”
She did not ask him the meaning of the word, although she did not understand it. She looked at him with the most pathetic face he had ever seen.
”Speak,” she said. ”Will he live?”
”Dr. Harland thinks so, and he is the very best authority in the world.
He hopes in a day or two to remove the pellets which have done the mischief. The danger, as I have already told you, lies in renewed hemorrhage; but that I hope we can prevent. Now, are you going to be a very good girl?”
”What can I do?” asked Evelyn. ”Can I go to him and stay with him?”
”I wonder,” said the doctor-”and yet,” he added, ”I scarcely like to propose it. There is a nurse there; your aunt is worn out. I will see what I can do.”
”If I could do that it would save me,” said Evelyn. ”There never, never has been quite such a naughty girl; and I-I did it-oh! not meaning to hurt him, but I did it. Oh! it would save me if I might sit by him.”
”I will see,” said the doctor.
He felt strangely interested in this queer, erratic, lost-looking child.
He went back again to the sickroom. The Squire was conscious. He was lying in comparative ease on his bed; a trained nurse was within reach.
”Nurse,” said the doctor.
The woman went with him across the room.
”I am going to stay here to-night.”
”Yes, sir; I am glad to hear it.”
”It is quite understood that Lady Frances is to have her night's rest?”
”Her ladys.h.i.+p is quite worn out, sir. She has gone away to her room. She will rest until two in the morning, when she will come down-stairs and help me to watch by the patient.”
”Then I will sit with him until two o'clock,” said the doctor. ”At two o'clock I will lie down in the Squire's sitting-room, where I can be within call. Now, I want to make a request.”
”Yes, sir.”