Author: George Manville Fenn
Category: Nonfiction
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CHAPTER FOUR.
"Will that Doctor never come!" muttered plump Mrs Wilton, who had beenfor the past ten minutes running from her niece's bedside to one of thefront casement windows of the fine old Kentish Manor House, to watch theroad through the park. "He might have come from London by this time.There, it's of no use; it's fate, and fate means disappointment. She'lldie; I'm sure she'll die, and all that money will go to those wretchedMorrisons. Why did he go out to the farms this morning? Any othermorning would have done; and Claud away, too. Was ever woman soplagued?--Yes, what is it? Oh, it's you, Eliza. How is she?"
"Quite insensible, ma'am. Is the Doctor never coming?"
"Don't ask me, Eliza. I sent the man over in the dog-cart, withinstructions to bring him back."
"Then pray, pray come and stay with me in the bedroom, ma'am."
"But I can't do anything, Eliza, and it isn't as if she were my ownchild. I couldn't bear to see her die."
"Mrs Wilton!" cried the woman, wildly. "Oh, my poor darling youngmistress, whom I nursed from a babe--die!"
"Here's master--here's Mr Wilton," cried the rosy-faced lady from thewindow, and making a dash at a glass to see that her cap was right, shehurried out of the room and down the broad oaken stairs to meet her lordat the door.
"Hallo, Maria, what's the matter?" he cried, meeting her in the hall,his high boots splashed with mud, and a hunting whip in his hand.
"Oh, my dear, I'm so glad you've come! Kate--fainting fits--one afterthe other--dying."
"The devil! What have you done?"
"Cold water--vinegar--burnt--"
"No, no. Haven't you sent for the Doctor?"
"Yes, I sent Henry with the dog-cart to fetch Mr Leigh."
"Mr Leigh! Were you mad? What do you know about Mr Leigh? Bah, youalways were a fool!"
"Yes, my dear, but what was I to do? It would have taken three hours toget--Oh, here he is."
For there was the grating of carriage wheels on the drive, the dog-cartdrew up, and Pierce Leigh sprang down and entered the hall.
Mrs Wilton glanced timidly at her husband, who gave her a sulky nod,and then turned to the young Doctor.
"My young niece--taken bad," he said, gruffly, "You'd better go up andsee her. Here, Maria, take him up."
Unceremonious; but businesslike, and Leigh showed no sign of resentment,but with a peculiar novel fluttering about the region of the heart hefollowed the lady, who, panting the while, led the way upstairs, andbreathlessly tried to explain how delicate her niece was, and how aftermany days of utter despondency, she had suddenly been seized with anattack of hysteria, which had been succeeded by fit after fit.
The next minute they were in the handsome bedroom at the end of a long,low corridor, where, pale as death, and with her maid--erst nurse--kneeling by her and fanning her, Kate Wilton, in her simple black, layupon a couch, looking as if the Doctor's coming were too late.
He drew a deep breath, and set his teeth as he sank on one knee by theinsensible figure, which he longed with an intense longing to clasp tohis breast. Then his nerves were strung once more, and he was the calm,professional man giving his orders, as he made his examination andinspired aunt and nurse with confidence, the latter uttering a sigh ofrelief as she opened the window, and obeyed sundry other orders, theresult being that at the end of half an hour the sufferer, who twiceover unclosed her eyes, and responded to her aunt's questions with afaint smile, had sunk into the heavy sleep of exhaustion.
"Better leave her now, madam," said Leigh, softly. "Sleep is the greatthing for her." Then, turning to the maid--"You had better stay andwatch by her, though she will not wake for hours."
"God bless you, sir," she whispered, with a look full of gratitude whichmade Leigh give her an encouraging smile, and he then followed MrsWilton downstairs.
"Really, it's wonderful," she said. "Thank you so much, Doctor. I'msure you couldn't have been nicer if you'd been quite an old man, and Ireally think that next time I'm ill I shall--Oh, my dear, she's ever somuch better now."
"Humph!" ejaculated Wilton; and then he gave his wife an angry look, asshe pushed him in the chest.
"Come in here and sit down, Mr Leigh. I want you to tell us all youthink."
The Doctor followed into the library, whose walls were covered withbooks that were never used, while, making an effort to be civil, theirowner pointed to a chair and took one himself, Leigh waiting till hisplump, amiable-looking hostess had subsided, and well-filled thatnearest the fire.
"Found her better then?" said Wilton.
"No, sir," said Leigh, smiling, "but she is certainly better now."
"That's what I meant. Nothing the matter, then. Vapours, whims, younggirls' hysterics, and that sort of thing? What did she have forbreakfast, Maria?"
"Nothing at all, dear. I can't get her to eat."
"Humph! Why don't you make her? Can't stand our miserable cookery, Isuppose. Well, Doctor, then, it's a false alarm?"
"No, sir; a very serious warning."
"Eh? You don't think there's danger? Here, we'd better send for somebig man from town."
"That is hardly necessary, sir, though I should be happy to meet a manof experience in consultation."
"My word! What airs!" said Wilton, to himself.
"As far as I could I have pretty well diagnosed the case, and it is verysimple. Your niece has evidently suffered deeply."
"Terribly, Doctor; she has been heart-broken."
"Now, my dear Maria, do pray keep your mouth shut, and let Mr Leightalk. He doesn't want you to teach him his business."
"But James, dear, I only just--"
"Yes, you always will only just! Go on, please, Doctor, and you'll sendher some medicine?"
"It is hardly a case for medicine, sir. Your niece's trouble is almostentirely mental. Given rest and happy surroundings, cheerful femalesociety of her own age, fresh air, moderate exercise, and the calmnessand peace of a home like this, I have no doubt that her nerves will soonrecover their tone."
"Then they had better do it," said Wilton, gruffly. "She has everythinga girl can wish for. My son and I have done all we can to amuse her."
"And I'm sure I have been as loving as a mother to her," said MrsWilton.
"Yes, but you are mistaken, sir. There must be something more. I'dbetter take her up to town for advice."
"By all means, sir," said Leigh, coldly. "It might be wise, but Ishould say that she would be better here, with time to work its owncure."
"Of course, I mean no disrespect to you, Mr Leigh, but you are a youngman, and naturally inexperienced."
"Now I don't want to hurt your feelings, James," broke in Mrs Wilton,"but it is you who are inexperienced in what young girls are. Mr Leighhas spoken very nicely, and quite understands poor Kate's case. If youhad only seen the way in which he brought her round!"
"I really do wish, Maria, that you would not interfere in what you don'tunderstand," cried Wilton, irascibly.
"But I'm obliged to when I find you going wrong. It's just what I'vesaid to you over and over again. You men are so hard and unfeeling, anddon't believe there are such things as nerves. Now, I'm quite sure thatMr Leigh could do her a great deal of good, if you'd only attend toyour out-door affairs and leave her to me--You grasped it all at once,Mr Leigh. Poor child, she has done nothing but fret ever since she hasbeen here, and no wonder. Within a year she has lost both father andmother."
"Now, Maria, Mr Leigh does not want to hear all our family history."
"And I'm not going to tell it to him, my dear; but it's just as I felt.It was only last night, when she had that fit of hysterical sobbing, Isaid to myself, Now if I had a dozen girls--as I should have liked to,instead of a boy, who is really a terrible trial to one, Mr Leigh--Ishould--"
"Maria!"
"Yes, my dear; but you should let me finish. If poor dear Kate had comehere and found a lot of girls she would have been as happy as the day islong.--And you don't think she wants
physic, Mr Leigh? No, no, don'thurry away."
"I have given you my opinion, madam," said Leigh, who had risen.
"Yes, and I'm sure it is right. I did give her some fluid magnesiayesterday, the same as I take for my acidity--"
"Woman, will you hold your tongue!" cried Wilton.
"No, James, certainly not. It is my duty, as poor Kate's aunt, to dowhat is best for her; and you should not speak to me like that before astranger. I don't know what he will think. The fluid magnesia wouldnot do her any harm, would it, Mr Leigh?"
"Not the slightest, madam; and I feel sure that with a little motherlyattention and such a course of change as I prescribed, Miss Wilton willsoon be well."
"There, James, we must have the Morrison girls to stay here with her.They are musical and--"
"We shall have nothing of the kind, Maria," said her husband, withasperity.
"Well, I know you don't like them, my dear, but in a case of urgency--bythe way, Mr Leigh, someone told me your sister played exquisitely onthe organ last Sunday because the organist was ill."
"My sister does play," said Leigh, coldly.
"I wish I had been at church to hear her, but my poor Claud had such abad bilious headache I was nearly sending for you, and I had to stay athome and nurse him. I'm sure the cooking must be very bad at thosecricket match dinners."
"Now, my dear Maria, you are keeping Mr Leigh."
"Oh, no, my dear, he was sent for to give us his advice, and I'm sure itis very valuable. By the way, Mr Leigh, why has not your sister calledhere?"
"I--er--really--my professional duties have left me little time foretiquette, madam, but I was under the impression that the first callshould be to the new-comer."
"Why, of course. Do sit down, James. You are only kicking the dust outof this horrid thick Turkey carpet--they are such a job to move and getbeaten, Mr Leigh. Do sit down, dear; you know how it fidgets me whenyou will jump up and down like a wild beast in a cage."
"Waffle!" said Mr Wilton aside.
"You are quite right, Mr Leigh; I ought to have called, but Claud doestake up so much of my time. But I will call to-morrow, and then you twocome up here the next day and dine with us, and I feel sure that ourpoor dear Kate will be quite pleased to know your sister. Tell her--no;I'll ask her to bring some music. She seems very nice, and young girlsdo always get on so well together. I know she'll do my niece a deal ofgood. But, of course, you will come again to-day, and keep on seeingher as much as you think necessary."
"Really I--" said Leigh, hesitating, and glancing resentfully at themaster of the house.
"Oh, yes, come on, Mr Leigh, and put my niece right as soon as youcan," he said.
"But your regular medical attendant--Mr Rainsford, I believe?"
"You may believe he's a pig-headed, obstinate old fool," growled Wilton."Wanted to take off my leg when I had a fall at a hedge, and the horserolled over it. Simple fracture, sir; and swore it would mortify. Imortified him."
"Yes, Mr Leigh, and the leg's stronger now than the other," interposedMrs Wilton.
"How do you know, Maria?" said her husband gruffly.
"Well, my dear, you've often said so."
"Humph! Come in again and see Miss Wilton, Doctor, and I shall feelobliged," said the uncle. "Good morning. The dog-cart is waiting todrive you back. I'll send and have you fetched about--er--four?"
"It would be better if it were left till seven or eight, unless, ofcourse, there is need."
"Eight o'clock, then," said Wilton; and Pierce Leigh bowed and left theroom, with the peculiar sensation growing once more in his breast, andlasting till he reached home, thinking of how long it would be beforeeight o'clock arrived.