“I have good hopes, your ladyship; he is better to-day.”
“Now I dare say you could tell me to a month when he will be cured.”
“Oh, your ladyship exaggerates my skill too much.”
“That is a short time to give us; but your ladyship may rely on it we will do our best.”
“Will you? Then I have no fear of the result. Oh, by-the-by, Dr. Willis wanted me to take a message to you, Mr. Coyne. He knows you by reputation.”
“Indeed! Really I was not aware that my humble--”
“Then you are better known than you in your modesty supposed. Let me see: what was the message? Oh, it was a peculiarity in Sir Charles he wished you to know. Dr. Willis has attended him from a boy, and he wished me to tell you that morphia and other sedatives have some very bad effects on him. I told Dr. Willis you would probably find that and every thing else out without a hint from him or any one else.”
“Yes; but I will make a note of it, for all that.”
“That is very kind of you. It will flatter the doctor, the more so as he has so high an opinion of you. But now, Mr. Coyne, I suppose if I am very good, and promise to soothe him, and not excite him, I may see my husband to-day?”
“Certainly, madam. You have an order from the person who--”
“I forgot to bring it with me. I relied on your humanity.”
“That is unfortunate. I am afraid I must not--” He hesitated, looked very uncomfortable, and said he would consult Mr. Appleton; then, suddenly puckering his face into obsequiousness, “Would your ladyship like to inspect some of our arrangements for the comfort of our patients?”
Lady Bassett would have declined the proposal but for the singular play of countenance; she was herself all eye and mind, so she said, gravely, “I shall be very happy, sir.”
Mr. Coyne then led the way, and showed her a large sitting-room, where some ladies were seated at different occupations and amusements: they kept more apart from each other than ladies do in general; but this was the only sign a far more experienced observer than Lady Bassett could have discovered, the nurses having sprung from authoritative into unobtrusive positions at the sound of Mr. Coyne's footstep outside.
“What!” said Lady Bassett; “are all these ladies--” She hesitated.
“Every one,” said Mr. Coyne; “and some incurably.”