Nurse Elisia Part 33

"But I want her in my ward, Mr Elthorne," said Sir Denton, smiling.

"Yes, after a time. But not yet. I am so helpless at present."

"Well, well, we shall see," said Sir Denton pleasantly. "It is mutually satisfactory. Nurse was suffering from our close London hospital air, and overworked. The change here has worked wonders. Good-bye, Mr Elthorne. I congratulate you upon the skill your son has shown."

He shook hands, and left patient and nurse together, descending with Neil to the drawing room, where Isabel, Alison, and Aunt Anne were waiting to hear his report.

"Oh, I am glad," cried Aunt Anne, wiping her eyes; and then: "You think he can do without the nurse now?"

Alison gave her a furious look, which did not escape Neil.

"Eh? Do without the nurse?" cried Sir Denton. "I did not say so. No, my dear madam, her attention is more necessary than ever, I am sorry to say."

Aunt Anne's plump countenance bespoke her disappointment.

"You are sorry to say?" she said.

"Yes, my dear madam, for I want her back in town."

Lunch was at an end, and the carriage at the door. Sir Denton shook hands and went out into the hall with Neil, took up his hat, set it down again, looked at his watch, and replaced it.

"About half an hour to spare, eh, Elthorne?"

"Yes, quite."

"Take me down the garden, then, where I can see flowers growing. G.o.d bless them! I wish I were a gardener. I want to speak to you."

Neil led the way down a sunny walk, beneath an ancient red brick wall, the old surgeon looking sharply about him till they reached a sundial standing upon a moss-eaten stone. Here he paused and rested his elbow on the copper disk, like a modern figure of Time.

"Neil Elthorne," he said, "I like you."

Neil smiled.

"The feeling is mutual, Sir Denton."

"I know it, my dear boy. You are my favourite pupil, and I want to see you rise. Now, do not be startled. I have been requested to select an able man who promises to be eminent to send out to Black Port."

"On the west coast of Africa?"

"Yes. To establish a hospital there--a cosmopolitan hospital in which government is interested. It is a terrible place, but a medical man knows how to take care of himself. He would have to engage for five years; the pay is very high; and he would have to devote himself to his task, above all in trying to ameliorate--cure if he can, and I believe it possible--the local disease, which is increasing fast. I do not conceal from you that there will be risks; but the man who goes out there for a few years and works, will come back to be loaded with honours, and take a very high position in his profession. A knighthood will probably follow. If I were a young man I would go, but I must content myself at my age with my ward in London. Now, then, there is plenty of time for consideration, but I should like to go back with some idea. I have not spoken yet to a soul, and I need not tell you that it would be a wrench to part with you; but it is your opportunity, and, as I have your future success at heart, I want to see you rise. Will you go?"

"I, Sir Denton? It is the opening for a physician."

"As much for a surgeon, my dear boy. He must be both. You are as good a surgeon as I am."

"Oh, Sir Denton!"

"You need not exclaim. I am not blind. I have had vast experience, but I am getting old and weaker. You have all that my experience has taught you, and, in addition, youth and a thoughtful, originating brain. I tell you frankly, because you are not a weak fool who would be puffed up: long before you are my age you will stand far higher than I do. I don't want to send you out there because I am jealous of you," he added laughingly.

"But I should not be equal to the task from the medical point of view."

"Nonsense, my lad! If I wanted medical help, I would far rather come to you for it than to any man in our hospital. Now, don't decide rashly; take time to think it over. You would not have to go for two or three months. There, I need say no more save repeating this: it is a terrible place from a health point of view, but the man who goes will be able to do something to lessen the risks, and government will help him in his movements for sanitation. Now, I must be off. Pick me a few flowers.

Aha! That is charming," he cried, as he saw Isabel waiting with a bunch she had hastily cut in one of the houses. "Thank you, my dear child.

Those shall stand in water in my room in memory of a delightful visit.

I envy you your life in this charming old place. Good-bye."

He shook hands with Isabel again, and walked back to the carriage with Neil, who looked very thoughtful.

"You can write and ask any questions," said Sir Denton, "and in a week you will give me your decision."

"I will give it you now, Sir Denton," said Neil gravely. "It is no."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite."

"You will not alter your mind?"

"No; I shall stay in England--with you."

"I am very sorry, Neil Elthorne, for some things--very glad for others.

The first is for you--the latter for myself. Good-bye. Tell him to go fast." The horses sprang off, and Neil stood thinking in the carriage drive.

"A lady in the case," said Sir Denton. "Well! it is human nature, and I am not sorry--for both their sakes. He loves her, and some day he will come and tell me."

At that moment Neil turned to re-enter the house, and his eyes lighted upon Nurse Elisia at the first-floor window watching the departing carriage. Their eyes met, and she drew back.

Neil sighed, and then felt a spasm of pain shoot through him, for he saw that his brother was close at hand, and that he must have seen the direction of his eyes, for there was a frown upon his brow which was there still as he said roughly:

"The old man's gone, then. I suppose he'll charge a pretty penny for coming down all this way?"

Neil looked at him in surprise for the moment, but directly after he felt that his brother had merely spoken to conceal his thoughts, and he was thinking this as he replied:

"Charge? No. I shall give him a check for the railway fare. He would look upon it as an insult if I offered him a fee."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

HOW ELISIA BECAME A NURSE.

The bedroom was bright with flowers and the many touches given by a thoughtful woman's hand, to which was due the sweet fragrance in the air.

"But you are better to-day, sir?"

"No, nurse, no. Perhaps better in body, but not in spirit. You cannot understand it. I seem to be a prisoner chained down. My body is here, and my mind is everywhere about the place with my old projects."

"Shall I read to you, sir?"

"Read? Yes; I like to hear you read. You are a strange nurse, to be able to read with so much feeling. Get a book. Something good."