At that moment John entered and announced the doctor.
"I am earlier than usual, Sir Albert. I have to go some way off, but I wanted to see you first."
"And wishing to go out," put in Mrs. Macrae, hoping to see the doctor's face express disapprobation and corroborate her old-fashioned idea of fresh air being bad for all cases of sickness.
"Of course, as soon as the moving does not pain you, you have severe bruises to recover from still--but fresh air. Yes, get out as soon as you can--lying here your spirits may go down. Yes, get out as soon as ever you can."
Sir Albert gave a triumphant smile to Mrs. Macrae, who rose and left them, much exercised in her mind about these new-fangled ways.
Thus it happened that soon a bath-chair was conveying Sir Albert along the level road by the sea, and that Mrs. Dorriman and Grace thus met him.
"Miss Grace Rivers and her aunt, Sir Albert," said John, hurriedly, as he saw them coming, and he was sent by his master to beg them to come and speak to him.
When they came nearer Sir Albert was conscious of a great and overwhelming disappointment. He must have dreamed of the expression in the girl's face, even the colour of her eyes. This face was like and yet unlike, and the cold steel-blue eyes, and the little self-satisfied expression, repelled him and made his proffered thanks an effort, all the time hating himself for being so ungrateful.
He apologised to Mrs. Dorriman for having ventured to detain her, but he was so anxious to express to Miss Rivers, Miss Grace Rivers, all he felt.
"Oh! I had nothing to do with it. It was my sister, it was Margaret," Grace said hurriedly.
"Yes," said Mrs. Dorriman, "poor Margaret came home quite ill from the fright and shock."
"Ill--I am so grieved," began Sir Albert.
"She is all right now," said Grace, quickly. "After all she was not able to help you."
"You do not know how she helped me," said Sir Albert, quietly. "But for her courage in staying and bathing my face--even moving me--I might have died. I do hope I shall have an opportunity of seeing her and expressing my thanks in person."
"Of course you shall," said Grace abruptly, impatient of the subject, one in which she played no part.
Mrs. Dorriman felt interested in the helpless figure, and the pallor which spoke of much suffering--she would fain have lingered, but Grace hurried her on.