To be near the doctors, papa says. Do you think any
doctors will be able to cure me?"
"Yes, dear, with God's help. I am glad he has brought you here. And now
I must run away," he said; when he had placed Charlotte in Mr. Sheldon's
arm-chair, "for a very little while, darling. I have seen a doctor, a
man in whom I have more confidence than I have in Dr. Doddleson. I am
going to fetch him, my dearest," he added tenderly, as he felt the
feeble hand cling to his; "I shall not be long. Do you think I shall not
hurry back to you? My dearest one, when I return, it will be to stay
with you--for ever."
She was too ill to note the significance of his words; she only knew that
they gave her comfort. He hurried from the room. In less than an hour he
must be at the London Bridge terminus, or in all probability the five
o'clock train would carry Dr. Jedd to St. Leonards; and on Dr. Jedd his
chief hope rested.
"Do you believe me now?" he asked of Mrs. Woolper as he went out
into the hall.
"I do," she answered in a whisper; "and I will do what you want."
She took his hand in her wrinkled horny palm and grasped it firmly. He
felt that in this firm pressure there was a promise sacred as any oath
ever registered on earth. He met Mr. Sheldon on the threshold, and
passed him without a word. The time might come in which he would have to
mask his thoughts, and stoop to the hateful hypocrisy of civility to
this man; but he had not yet schooled himself to do this.
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