I wouldn't stay in a house where it
was for a hundred thousand pounds. I might catch it and be marked for
life!"
Lady Hartledon begged her to be composed, and Val smothered a laugh. The
symptoms were not those of small-pox.
"How should you know?" retorted the dowager, drowning the reassuring
words. "How should any one know? Get Pepps here directly. Have you sent
for him?"
"No," said Anne. "I have more confidence in Mr. Brook where children are
concerned."
"Confidence in Brook!" shrieked the dowager, pushing up her flaxen front.
"A common, overworked apothecary! Confidence in him, Lady Hartledon!
Elster's life may be in danger; he is my grandchild, and I insist on
Pepps being fetched to him."
Anne sat down at once and wrote a brief note to Sir Alexander. It
happened that the message sent to Mr. Brook had found that gentleman away
from home, and the greater man arrived first. He looked at the child,
asked a few bland questions, and wrote a prescription. He did not say
what the illness might be: for he never hazarded a premature opinion.
As he was leaving the chamber, a servant accosted him.
"Lady Kirton wishes to see you, sir."
"Well, Pepps," cried she, as he advanced, having loaded herself with
camphor, "what is it?"
"I do not take upon myself to pronounce an opinion, Lady Kirton,"
rejoined the doctor, who had grown to feel irritated lately at the
dowager's want of ceremony towards him.
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