trate that his condition drew the sympathy out of
Leonora with a sharp violent pain, as very cold metal burns the fingers.
He could not even whisper; he could only look. Soon afterwards Dr.
Hawley returned, explaining that the anxiety of a husband about to be a
father had called him too soon by several hours. The doctor, who had
been informed of Aunt Hannah's death as he entered the house, said at
once, on seeing him, that Uncle Meshach had had a marvellous escape.
Then, when he had succoured the patient further, he turned rather
formidably to Leonora.

'I want to speak to you,' he said, and he led her out of the room,
leaving Rose, Ethel, and John in charge of Meshach.

'What is it, doctor?' she asked him plaintively on the landing.

'Which is your bedroom? Show it me,' he demanded. She opened a door, and
they both went in. 'I'll light the gas,' he said, doing so. 'And now,'
he proceeded, 'you'll kindly retire to bed, instantly. Mr. Myatt is out
of danger.' He smiled warmly, just as he had smiled when he predicted
that Meshach would probably not recover.

'But, doctor,' Leonora protested.

'Instantly,' he said, forcing her gently on to the sofa at the foot of
the two beds.

'But some one ought to go down to Church Street to look after things,'
she began.

'Church Street can wait. There's no hurry at Church Street now.'

'And uncle hasn't been told yet ... I'm not at all over-tired, doctor.'

'Yes, mother dear, you are, and you must do as the doctor orders.' It
was Ethel who had come into the room; she touched Leonora's arm
caressingly.

'And where are you girls to sleep? The spare room isn't----'

'Oh, mother!----Just listen to her, doctor!' said Ethel, stroking her
mother's hand, as though she and the doctor were two old and sage
persons, and Leonora was a small child.

'They think I'm ill! They think I'm going to collapse!' The idea struck
her suddenly. 'But I'm not. I'm quite well, and my brain is perfectly
clear. And anyhow, I'm sure I can't sleep.' She said aloud: 'It wouldn't
be any use; I shouldn't sleep.'

'Ah! I'll attend to that, I'll attend to that!' the doctor laughed.
'Ethel, help your mother to bed.' He departed.

'This is really most absurd,' Leonora reflected. 'It's ridiculous.
However, I'm only doing it to oblige them.'

Before she was entirely undressed, Rose entered with a powder in a white
paper, and a glass of hot milk.

'You are to swallow _this_, mother, and then drink _this_.