"Then, sir," observed Miss Peyton, after listening to the surgeon's
account of his young patient, "we may be flattered with the expectation
that he will recover."
"'Tis certain, madam," returned the doctor, endeavoring, out of respect
to the ladies, to replace his wig; "'tis certain, with care and
good nursing."
"In those he shall not be wanting," said the spinster, mildly.
"Everything we have he can command, and Major Dunwoodie has dispatched
an express for his sister."
"His sister!" echoed the practitioner, with a meaning look. "If the
major has sent for her, she will come."
"Her brother's danger would induce her, one would imagine."
"No doubt, madam," continued the doctor, laconically, bowing low, and
giving room to the ladies to pass. The words and the manner were not
lost on the younger sister, in whose presence the name of Dunwoodie was
never mentioned unheeded.
"Sir," cried Dr. Sitgreaves, on entering the parlor, addressing himself
to the only coat of scarlet in the room, "I am advised you are in want
of my aid. God send 'tis not Captain Lawton with whom you came in
contact, in which case I may be too late."
"There must be some mistake, sir," said Wellmere, haughtily. "It was a
surgeon that Major Dunwoodie was to send me, and not an old woman.
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