Aunt Rachel would have entered a disclaimer, but Rosa spoke before
she could open her mouth.
"I didn't say that, Frederic! There was never such another impatient
and inconsiderate creature upon the globe as yourself. It would be
unpardonably rude in us to send the man away, if he is a charlatan,
without letting him see me. Have him up, by all means, and let us
hear what priggish nonsense he has to say. He will feel the easier
when it is done."
Dr. Ritchie's private report to Mrs. Sutton, who accompanied him to
tne lower floor, under color of seeing that he was served with
luncheon, was discouraging. The disease had made fearful inroads
upon a constitution that had never been robust, and the nervous
excitability of the patient was likely to accelerate her decline.
She might linger for several months. It would not surprise him to
hear that she had died within twelve hours after his visit. It was
but fair and professional he added, that he should, through Mrs.
Sutton, advise Mr. Chilton of her state, although, unless he were
mistaken, he had already anticipated his verdict.
This Mrs. Sutton found was the case, when she essayed that evening
to insure him against the awful shock of his wife's unexpected
dissolution.
"She has never been entirely well since the death of our second
child, a year ago," he said. "The little one was buried on a very
stormy day, and the mother would not be dissuaded from going to the
cemetery. The severe cold, acting upon a system enfeebled by grief,
induced an attack of pneumonia. Dr. Ritchie but coincides with every
other physician I have consulted."
"It is a pity you are obliged to leave her so soon," observed the
sympathizing nurse. "Although she may be more comfortable a week
hence than she is now."
"A week! I had no intention of returning in less than a month's
time. I made all my arrangements to that effect before leaving home.
Rosa's reference to my desire to go back to my clients was sheer
badinage"--smiling mournfully. "You have heard her talk often
enough to understand how little of earnest there is in the
raillery." More insincerity! For, contradictory as it may appear,
Mrs. Sutton felt constrained to believe his unsupported word, in
opposition to his wife's written assertion that he designed to
return to his practice the ensuing week.
"She thought I would be more apt to come if I imagined that he would
soon be gone!" was her grieved reflection. "If she could beguile me
hither by this assurance, she trusted to her coaxings and my
compassion to retain me. O Rosa! Rosa! cannot even the honest hour
teach you to be truthful?"