“Thank you, Isabel,” said Hilary’s aunt. “Now you join the girls. Hilary will feel better to know that everything is going as usual, and it will be better for her to be alone with the nurse and the doctor, as soon as he comes.”
“Well, Hilary, child, what sort of a performance is this?” asked Miss Randolph with kindness, as she came into the suite and the nurse followed. “Mrs. Garland, this is Miss Knight, one of our nurses.”
Miss Knight had a little dose for Hilary to take, and then proceeded to examine the foot, very carefully. She was a good nurse, but very matter-of-fact, and said in reply to Hilary’s question, “No I don’t _think_ there is anything broken.”
Hilary’s heart descended to its lowest location. “Possibly something broken. Now there was not the least hope of getting to New York in time to see Campbell before he sailed! Why did this have to happen just at this time?”
But Hilary had little opportunity to mourn at present. The janitor brought in a wheeled chair in which Hilary was conveyed to the elevator and thence to the hospital room. It was only a short time until the doctor came, a genial soul who was as gentle as a thorough examination would permit. “Nothing broken, Miss Lancaster, and I have seen worse sprains. I am afraid I can’t promise your being able to walk up for your diploma tomorrow, but you will feel a good deal better than you do now.”
“Oh, could I travel to New York in a day or two?”
“Is that necessary?” asked the doctor, hesitating.
“Well, I’ll tell you, Miss Lancaster, I will give directions for good care of that ankle and I can tell better tomorrow, when the swelling goes down, what the prospect is.”
“He wasn’t very encouraging, was he, Aunt Hilary?” Hilary was lying in bed now, her bandaged foot and ankle on a soft pillow. “I suppose I am crazy to even _think_ of getting to New York, but it does seem—as if—I can’t give up seeing Campbell before—” Hilary was crying again. “Please forgive me for—crying!”
“Poor little girl!” Aunt Hilary was smoothing the hot forehead. “Cry all you want to; perhaps it will do you good. You are all tired out, and I can understand what the disappointment means to you.”
“You will go to the concert tonight, won’t you?” Hilary could always think of some one besides herself.