He, so renowned even
amongst cool hands for exceptional coolness, was on this occasion
thoroughly unnerved. He dropped into a City tavern, and refreshed himself
with a dram. But, amidst all the bustle and clatter of a crowded bar, the
face of Tom Halliday, haggard and worn with illness, was before his eyes,
and the sound of Tom Halliday's voice was in his ears. "I can't settle to
anything this afternoon," he said to himself. "I'll run down to
Bayswater, and see whether Hawkehurst has managed matters with Nancy
Woolper."
CHAPTER III.
THE SORTES VIRGILIANAE.
While George Sheldon was still in the depths of the City Valentine
Hawkehurst arrived at the gothic villa, where he asked to see Mrs.
Woolper. Of the woman herself he knew very little: he had seen her once
or twice when some special mission brought her to the drawing-room; and
from Charlotte he had heard much of her affectionate solicitude. To have
been kind to his Charlotte was the strongest claim to his regard.
"This woman's help would be of inestimable service," he thought; "her
age, her experience of sickness, her familiarity with the patient,
especially adapt her for the office she will be required to fill. If Dr.
Jedd should order a nurse to watch by the sick-bed, here is the nurse. If
it should prove possible to remove the dear sufferer, here is the
guardian best calculated to protect and attend her removal.
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