"Never again as of old."
The words seemed to quiver in the silence of the sick chamber as Nurse
Elisia uttered what, to the sufferer, sounded like a sentence, the more
terrible as coming from one so grave, calm, and unimpassioned as the
beautiful woman who stood before him; and as he lay, gazing wildly at
the speaker, Neil saw his father's eyelids tremble and then slowly drop
over the dilated eyes, while his worn, thin, wrinkled face was
contracted. But he opened his eyes again, and clung tightly to the
nurse's hand.
"Yes," he said firmly, "that is the truth. Thank you, nurse, thank you.
God bless you for what you have done for a poor helpless cripple."
He drew her down toward him as he spoke till he could kiss her brow, and
then, as she rose, he released her hand.
"Thank you," he said quietly; "thank you. Yes, that is the truth. But
I shall be out again, Neil, weak in body, but not imbecile. I shall
still be the Squire, boy. I am the Squire. Now, tell me: why is Sir
Denton coming down?"
"Simply for me to ask his opinion, father," said Neil, seating himself
again, and resisting the temptation to offer the nurse a chair. But
before he could continue it seemed as if his thoughts had been
communicated to the patient, who turned toward her.
"Sit down, nurse," he said. "I am wearing you out with attending on
me."
"Indeed no, Mr Elthorne--" she began.
"Sit down," he cried imperiously, and she quietly obeyed.
"Now go on, Neil."
"Of course I have studied your case very hard," said the son, "and I
have certain ideas that I should like to test. I believe they would
strengthen you, but I will not do anything without getting my opinions
endorsed by a man of greater experience."
"Humph! That's sensible; eh, nurse?"
She bowed gravely.
"So I wrote to Sir Denton at length, telling him what I had arrived at,
and asking him to come down the first free day he had, or, I should say,
the first time he had a few hours, to see you, and give me his advice."
"Is that all?" said Mr Elthorne sharply.
"Everything, father."
"Humph! Well, that's right, my boy, quite right. Don't experiment upon
me," he said, with a painful laugh. "After fighting through all this I
can't afford to go backward. Keep the experiment for some poor hospital
patient."
The words jarred on Neil, and he glanced quickly at the nurse, to see
that there was a pained look in her eyes, but it passed off as she saw
that she was observed.
"Well, when do you expect him?" said Mr Elthorne.
"Almost directly, sir."
"And why was I not told?"
"For fear of agitating you, and setting you brooding over it. Besides,
I was not sure when he would come down."
"Humph! Well, don't treat me as if I were a child, boy. I can think if
I can't walk. And I must be got out now. Has that chair come down?"
"Yes."
"That's right. I'll be carried down on Friday when my girls come. If
they call before then they are to be brought up. No, no; I know what
you are going to say--that they will talk too much. It will do me good
to hear Saxa's chatter and Dana's prattle. When did you see them last?"
In spite of himself Neil glanced at the nurse as he answered:
"I hardly know. On Sunday, I think."
"You hardly know! On Sunday, you think! My dear boy, what a dreamer
you have become! Lucky for you that Saxa is what she is."
It was hard work for Neil to keep his eyes averted from the nurse.
"What will she think?" he said to himself.
The sound of wheels on the drive put an end to the conversation, Neil
hurrying out to welcome the great surgeon, who declined all refreshment
until after he had heard full particulars of the progress of the case
and seen the patient.
"I could not have done differently," said Sir Denton at last. "You
found Nurse Elisia invaluable, of course?"
"Invaluable."
"Then now let us go up and see him."
Neil led the way to where Ralph Elthorne lay helpless, but with his eyes
gazing keenly at him as they entered.
"Ah, good-morning, Mr Elthorne," cried Sir Denton cheerily.
"Good-morning, nurse. Now, sir, you know why I have come?"
"Yes, my son has told me," replied the injured man, watching his
visitor's expression. "Well? Am I worse?"
"No, sir; much better. There is no doubt of that. There is a vigour in
your manner and speech that is most satisfactory."
"But I am always to be a helpless cripple?" said Elthorne bitterly.
Sir Denton did not reply for a few moments, but sat gazing in the
patient's eyes.
"You wish me to answer that question?" he said at last.
"Of course."
"Then I will. I can answer a man of your strength of intellect, Mr
Elthorne. Yes, sir. No surgical skill could restore you."
He stopped short and watched the patient intently. "That's well," he
went on. "You bear the announcement manfully. Quite right, for your
life has been saved, Mr Elthorne; and with the palliatives that
mechanical skill can supply you with, you ought to and can enjoy many
years of useful life. Your son has thoroughly explained to me his
intentions regarding your future treatment, and I fully endorse his
ideas. They will benefit you, but do not expect too much."
"Condemned to a life of helplessness!" muttered Elthorne in a low voice.
"No, sir, you have your brain intact," said Sir Denton. "Thank God for
that."
"Yes," said Elthorne, gripping the surgeon's hand, "thank God for that.
I will not repine, Sir Denton, for I can think, and will, and be obeyed.
Do you hear, Neil? and be obeyed. The head is right."
"Yes, and the heart, Mr Elthorne. So no despair, sir. Meet your
trouble like a man. You can be a successful general yet in the battle
of life."
"Thank you, sir."
"My dear Mr Elthorne, I wish I could hold out hopes of an ultimate
recovery of the use of your limbs, but, with a man like you, a frank,
open statement is best. You know the worst, and you can get over the
difficulties. I can say no more, unless I deliver a eulogy upon your
son's skill."
"Don't do that," said the invalid grimly; "he is conceited enough
already."
"Then I will leave you now and ask for a little refreshment. I have had
nothing but a cup of tea since my dinner last evening."
He rose, shook hands, and then turned to Nurse Elisia.
"I miss you sadly, nurse, but I suppose you cannot be spared for the
present."
"Spared?" cried Elthorne quickly. "No, no; certainly not."
"But I want her in my ward, Mr Elthorne," said Sir Denton, smiling.
"Yes, after a time. But not yet. I am so helpless at present."
"Well, well, we shall see," said Sir Denton pleasantly. "It is mutually
satisfactory. Nurse was suffering from our close London hospital air,
and overworked. The change here has worked wonders. Good-bye, Mr
Elthorne. I congratulate you upon the skill your son has shown."
He shook hands, and left patient and nurse together, descending with
Neil to the drawing room, where Isabel, Alison, and Aunt Anne were
waiting to hear his report.
"Oh, I am glad," cried Aunt Anne, wiping her eyes; and then: "You think
he can do without the nurse now?"
Alison gave her a furious look, which did not escape Neil.
"Eh? Do without the nurse?" cried Sir Denton. "I did not say so. No,
my dear madam, her attention is more necessary than ever, I am sorry to
say."
Aunt Anne's plump countenance bespoke her disappointment.
"You are sorry to say?" she said.
"Yes, my dear madam, for I want her back in town."
Lunch was at an end, and the carriage at the door. Sir Denton shook
hands and went out into the hall with Neil, took up his hat, set it down
again, looked at his watch, and replaced it.
"About half an hour to spare, eh, Elthorne?"
"Yes, quite."
"Take me down the garden, then, where I can see flowers growing. God
bless them! I wish I were a gardener. I want to speak to you."
Neil led the way down a sunny walk, beneath an ancient red brick wall,
the old surgeon looking sharply about him till they reached a sundial
standing upon a moss-eaten stone. Here he paused and rested his elbow
on the copper disk, like a modern figure of Time.
"Neil Elthorne," he said, "I like you."
Neil smiled.
"The feeling is mutual, Sir Denton."
"I know it, my dear boy. You are my favourite pupil, and I want to see
you rise. Now, do not be startled. I have been requested to select an
able man who promises to be eminent to send out to Black Port."
"On the west coast of Africa?"
"Yes. To establish a hospital there--a cosmopolitan hospital in which
government is interested. It is a terrible place, but a medical man
knows how to take care of himself. He would have to engage for five
years; the pay is very high; and he would have to devote himself to his
task, above all in trying to ameliorate--cure if he can, and I believe
it possible--the local disease, which is increasing fast. I do not
conceal from you that there will be risks; but the man who goes out
there for a few years and works, will come back to be loaded with
honours, and take a very high position in his profession. A knighthood
will probably follow. If I were a young man I would go, but I must
content myself at my age with my ward in London. Now, then, there is
plenty of time for consideration, but I should like to go back with some
idea. I have not spoken yet to a soul, and I need not tell you that it
would be a wrench to part with you; but it is your opportunity, and, as
I have your future success at heart, I want to see you rise. Will you
go?"
"I, Sir Denton? It is the opening for a physician."
"As much for a surgeon, my dear boy. He must be both. You are as good
a surgeon as I am."
"Oh, Sir Denton!"
"You need not exclaim. I am not blind. I have had vast experience, but
I am getting old and weaker. You have all that my experience has taught
you, and, in addition, youth and a thoughtful, originating brain. I
tell you frankly, because you are not a weak fool who would be puffed
up: long before you are my age you will stand far higher than I do. I
don't want to send you out there because I am jealous of you," he added
laughingly.
"But I should not be equal to the task from the medical point of view."
"Nonsense, my lad! If I wanted medical help, I would far rather come to
you for it than to any man in our hospital. Now, don't decide rashly;
take time to think it over. You would not have to go for two or three
months. There, I need say no more save repeating this: it is a terrible
place from a health point of view, but the man who goes will be able to
do something to lessen the risks, and government will help him in his
movements for sanitation. Now, I must be off. Pick me a few flowers.
Aha! That is charming," he cried, as he saw Isabel waiting with a bunch
she had hastily cut in one of the houses. "Thank you, my dear child.
Those shall stand in water in my room in memory of a delightful visit.
I envy you your life in this charming old place. Good-bye."
He shook hands with Isabel again, and walked back to the carriage with
Neil, who looked very thoughtful.
"You can write and ask any questions," said Sir Denton, "and in a week
you will give me your decision."
"I will give it you now, Sir Denton," said Neil gravely. "It is no."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite."
"You will not alter your mind?"
"No; I shall stay in England--with you."
"I am very sorry, Neil Elthorne, for some things--very glad for others.
The first is for you--the latter for myself. Good-bye. Tell him to go
fast." The horses sprang off, and Neil stood thinking in the carriage
drive.
"A lady in the case," said Sir Denton. "Well! it is human nature, and I
am not sorry--for both their sakes. He loves her, and some day he will
come and tell me."
At that moment Neil turned to re-enter the house, and his eyes lighted
upon Nurse Elisia at the first-floor window watching the departing
carriage. Their eyes met, and she drew back.
Neil sighed, and then felt a spasm of pain shoot through him, for he saw
that his brother was close at hand, and that he must have seen the
direction of his eyes, for there was a frown upon his brow which was
there still as he said roughly:
"The old man's gone, then. I suppose he'll charge a pretty penny for
coming down all this way?"
Neil looked at him in surprise for the moment, but directly after he
felt that his brother had merely spoken to conceal his thoughts, and he
was thinking this as he replied:
"Charge? No. I shall give him a check for the railway fare. He would
look upon it as an insult if I offered him a fee."