"Very different to a month ago," my well-beloved remarked. "Do you recollect when Short went to London in a hansom and brought you down at three in the morning?"
"I gave up all hope when I saw him on that occasion," I said; "but he certainly seems to have taken a new lease of life."
"Do you think he really has?" she inquired with an undisguised eagerness which struck me as distinctly curious. "Do you believe that Sir Bernard's fears are after all ungrounded?"
I looked at her surprised. She had never before evinced such a keen interest in her sister's husband, and I was puzzled.
"I really can't give an opinion," I responded mechanically, for want of something or other to say.
It was curious, that question of hers--very curious.
Yet after all I was in love--and all lovers are fools in their jealousy.
"Do you know, Ralph," she faltered presently, "I have a faint suspicion that you are annoyed about something. What is it? Be frank now and tell me."
"Annoyed?" I laughed. "Not at all, dearest. Nervous and impatient, perhaps. You must make allowances for me. A doctor's life is full of professional worries. I've had a trying day at the hospital, and I suppose I'm quarrelsome--eh?"
"No, not quarrelsome, but just inclined to be a little suspicious."
Her woman's power of penetration to the innermost secrets of the heart was marvellous.
"How absurd!" I exclaimed. "Why should I be suspicious--and of what?"
"Well," she laughed, "I really don't know, only your manner is peculiar. Why not be frank with me, Ralph, dear, and tell me what it is that you don't like. Have I offended you?"
"Not at all, darling," I hastened to assure her. "Why, you're the best little woman in the world. Offend me--how absurd!"
I hesitated. When a woman really loves, a man can have but few secrets from her. Ethelwynn always read me like an open book.
"I'm worried over a critical case," I said, in an endeavour to evade her question.
"But your patients don't annoy you, surely," she exclaimed. "There is a distinction between annoyance and worry."
I saw that she had detected my suspicion, and at once hastened to reassure her that she had my entire confidence.
"If Mary finds her life a trifle dull with her husband it is surely no reason why I should be blamed for it," she said, in a tone of mild complaint.