'
Sophia recovered with apologies: a little faintness; it was nothing.
In a few minutes she would go to bed. They helped her there.
'You ought to have told me, Henrietta,' Rose said on the landing.
'I couldn't. She wished it to be our secret.' It was pleasant to feel
that Aunt Rose was out of this affair.
'We must have the doctor and she ought not to be alone to-night.'
I'll sleep on the sofa in her room.'
'No, Henrietta, you need more sleep than I do.'
'Oh, but I'm young enough to sleep anywhere--on the floor! But let
Aunt Sophia choose.'
Henrietta went back to the drawing-room, and the housemaid was sent
for the doctor. Shortly afterwards there came a ring at the bell; no
doubt it was the doctor, and Henrietta wished she could go upstairs
with him, for Aunt Rose, she told herself again, was not a practical
person and Henrietta was experienced in illness. She had nursed her
mother and she liked looking after people. She knew how to arrange
pillows; she was not afraid of sickness. However, she would have to
wait until Aunt Sophia sent for her; but it was not the doctor: it was
Charles Batty who appeared in the doorway.
'Oh,' Henrietta said, 'what have you come for?'
He put down the hat and stick he had forgotten to leave in the hall.
'I don't know,' he said. 'I had a kind of feeling you might like to
see me. It's the first time I've had it,' he added solemnly.
He really had an extraordinary way of knowing things, but she said,
'Well, Aunt Sophia's ill, so I don't think you can stay.
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