"You _are_ ill, and you must go to bed immediately, and let me put
Gordon off until to-morrow."
"No, let him come. I want to hear what the Consul-General had to say to
him."
In spite of himself he had to go to bed, though, and half-an-hour later,
having given him a sedative, Helena was saying--
"You've over-excited yourself again, Father. You were anxious about
Gordon when his horse fell and those abominable spears were flying
about."
"Not a bit of it. I knew he would come out all right. The fighting
devil isn't civilised out of the British blood yet, thank God! But
those Egyptians at the end--the ingrates, the dastards!"
"Father!"
"Oh, I am calm enough now--don't be afraid, girl. I was sorry to hear
Gordon standing up for them, though. A soldier every inch of him, but
how unlike his father! Never saw father and son so different. Yet so
much alike too! Fighting men both of them, Hope to goodness they'll
never come to grips. Heavens! that would be a bad day for all of us."