King of the Castle Part 57

"Hush, my child; don't be agitated. There, he will sleep more easily now," he continued, as he unfastened the insensible man's collar and drew off his tie.

"You are not deceiving me?"

"Deceiving you?" said the doctor reproachfully.

"Can I do anything, ma'am?" said Woodham, softly entering the room.

"No, I think; nothing," said the doctor thoughtfully. "I am very glad I had not gone."

"Then you think--there is danger?"

"Danger? No, no, my dear child. There, let him rest. Miss Dillon, will you draw back that lamp and replace the shade? That's it. Better let him sleep it off quietly."

Woodham quickly raised the lamp and set it down in its old place, while Mary carefully put on the shade, with the effect that the room was once more gloomy of aspect, save where the bright light was condensed upon the table.

As soon as this was done, Claude looked appealingly in the doctor's face, her eyes seeming to ask--What next?

The question was so plainly expressed that Asher said, with a smile--

"What next? Oh, we must let him sleep it off. I don't suppose that he will be very long before he wakes."

Claude's hands seemed to go naturally together, and she pa.s.sed one over the other, while Sarah Woodham stood gazing intently at Gartram, and a curious shudder ran through her from time to time.

"But, Doctor Asher," said Claude at last, "I do feel so helpless--so lonely. I--"

"Oh, come, come," cried the doctor encouragingly; "don't look at it so seriously. It is a heavy sleep, and may last for hours. I'll stop for a bit, and then come in quite early in the morning. Perhaps it would be as well for somebody to sit up."

Claude tried to speak, but she could not. She laid her hand upon the doctor's arm, and stood, with her lip quivering, gazing down at her father till she could command her voice, and then she whispered huskily,--

"Don't go."

She could say no more, but stood looking appealingly in his eyes.

"You mean stay till he wakes?"

She nodded quickly.

"Oh, certainly, if you wish it; but I ought to tell you that I hardly think it necessary."

"I do wish it," said Claude. "Do not you. Mary?"

"Yes."

"By all means."

"I will sit with you. Mary, too, will keep us company."

"No, no," said the doctor in a whisper, "there is no need for that. If I stay, it is with the understanding that you both go to bed."

Sarah Woodham was standing back in the shadow, but she appeared to be listening eagerly to every word.

"But we should make it less dull for you," pleaded Claude.

"I am never dull when I sit up with a sick person," said the doctor didactically. "These are my hours for study of my patient. No, no; if I am to stay it is as the doctor--the master of the situation. You will go to bed."

"But you will want refreshments--somebody within call."

"To be sure, and there will be our old friend Mrs Woodham. You will sit up?"

"Yes, sir, of course," said the woman eagerly.

"That's right. Now, then, ladies, if you please, we must have utter silence till Mr Gartram wakes."

Claude sighed, but she bowed her head, and turned to leave the room with Mary; but as she reached the door, she hurried back to where her father was seated, and bent over him to kiss his forehead.

"Must I go, doctor?" she whispered.

"Certainly," he said quietly.

"But if he seems worse, you would have me called?"

"Directly."

The two girls left the room, Claude beckoning to Sarah Woodham, who followed them out.

"You will make coffee for Doctor Asher."

"Yes, ma'am, of course."

"Go back and ask him when he would like it brought to him; and, Sarah, you will come and tell me how papa is. I shall not undress--only lie down."

"You may depend on me, Miss Claude."

"But you--is anything the matter? You look so ill."

"I was a bit startled at master's way of breathing, my dear. I thought he was going to be much worse."

Claude went back into the drawing-room with Mary Dillon, neither of them noticing how wild and excited the servant grew, and a few minutes after they went slowly upstairs to Claude's room.

Sarah Woodham softly retraced her steps to the study, tapped gently, and the door was opened by the doctor, who stood in the opening, book in hand.

"When will I have coffee? Oh, about four o'clock. I have only just had tea. Go and lie down somewhere within call--where I can find you."

"I am not sleepy, sir."

"No; but you may be by-and-by. Go and lie down on the sofa in the dining-room, I can easily find you there. Why, my good woman, you look ghastly."

Sarah Woodham shrank away.