Nurse Elisia Part 49

A COUNTERPLOT.

Neil Elthorne's absence from the hospital was rapidly extending to a term of months, broken only by a weekly visit, during the last of which Sir Denton, after hearing the report upon Ralph Elthorne's health, had said quietly:

"Never mind if you have to be away from here another month, my dear boy.

You are not right yet yourself. You look careworn and anxious. I am managing very well, and I want you to be quite strong before you return.

By the way, I have not filled up that post yet. I have had three men engaged one after the other, but they have all turned tail--backed out of it. You will not alter your mind? Fine opportunity for a brave man, Elthorne."

"No, I cannot leave England," replied Neil firmly. "There are reasons why I must stay."

"A lady, of course," said Sir Denton to himself. "I did once think--but never mind. He knows his own affairs best."

Neil was back at Hightoft after his last visit to town. His father was very slowly mending, and the nurse, as he could see, was indefatigable, her actions in the sick room disarming to some extent the young surgeon's resentment as he brooded over the fact that Alison was constantly watching, and obtained interviews with her, he felt convinced, from time to time.

He used to muse over these matters in the library, where he had surrounded himself with various works into which he plunged deeply, trying hard to forget his troubles in hard study of his profession, but too often in vain, for he was haunted by Nurse Elisia's calm, grave face in all his waking hours.

"She has a right to prefer him," he would say, "and I have none to complain; but it is hard, very hard."

He visited the sick room regularly four times a day, and his behaviour there was that of a surgeon who was a stranger. The nurse was always present, and she received his orders in the same spirit, a coldness having sprung up between them that was very nearly resentment on his part, but always on hers the respect of nurse to the doctor who had the patient in charge.

Several little things had made Neil satisfied that there was a quiet understanding between his brother and Elisia, trifles in themselves, the most important being Alison's manner when they met at meals. For there was always a quiet, self-satisfied look in the young man's eyes which indicated triumph, a look that roused a feeling of rage in his breast that he found it hard to control.

Neil felt that if they were together a quarrel must ensue, an encounter the very thought of which made him shudder, and after visiting his father he would hurry back to the library, and try to forget everything in his books.

It was with affairs in this condition that the day on which Sir Cheltnam was to dine there came. Neil had paid his customary morning visit, and paused at the door as he entered quietly, feeling almost lighthearted as he saw the look of returning vigour in his father's face.

The old man was talking eagerly to the nurse, whose back was toward Neil, and there was a glow of satisfaction in the young surgeon's heart as he owned to himself that it was almost entirely Elisia's work, her devotion to his father, which had wrought this change.

The group, too, at which he gazed pleased his eye: the invalid looking up, full of trust, in his graceful attendant's face; and the crushed-down love in Neil's breast began to revive again, as he thought that if he could win her his father would be ready to take her as a daughter to his heart.

Then all came over black. The scene before him was clouded, and a sense of despairing misery filled his breast.

They were talking about Alison, for his father mentioned the young man's name, and Elisia was evidently listening with attention to his words.

Neil drew back quickly to hide his emotion, for he felt that he could not face them then; but the door clicked as he closed it, and before he was at the head of the stairs it was reopened by Nurse Elisia, who said quickly:

"You need not go back, sir. Mr Elthorne is quite ready to see you."

He turned once more, and as he gazed sharply in the nurse's face, he detected a faint flush in her generally pale cheeks and a suffused look in her eyes which strengthened him now in his belief.

"Even my father is working against me," he thought to himself, as he pa.s.sed on and took the chair by the side of the couch.

"Yes, boy, my yes," said his patient with some display of animation, "I certainly am better this morning. Helpless as ever, of course--I am getting resigned to that. I feel more myself, and I shall soon be asking for my invalid chair or a carriage ride."

"Have them as soon as you can bear them, sir," said Neil, laying his father's hand back upon the couch. "Yes, you are decidedly stronger this morning, and I think you can now begin to do without me."

"Without you, my boy? Yes, I think so, but not without nurse. I am very weak yet, my boy."

"But that will soon pa.s.s off," said Neil coldly. "You must keep your attendant, of course."

"Yes. Yes, of course, Neil, of course."

"Then to-morrow or next day I shall go back, and come again, say from Sat.u.r.day to Monday, and then give you a fortnight's rest, so as to break off by degrees."

"You want to go back, then, Neil?"

"Yes, sir. The hospital has hardly known me lately. I ought to go now."

"True; yes, I ought not to keep you longer, my boy," said his father thoughtfully. "But you 've done a wonderful deal for me, Neil."

"The best I could, father; and, thank G.o.d, we have saved your life."

"Thank G.o.d, my life has been spared!" said the old man fervently; and he closed his eyes.

Neil left them soon after to return to the library, but not to resume his studies. His heart burned with anger against everyone in the place, and he paced the room thinking bitterly.

"Yes," he said to himself, "my work is done, and I may go. He said nothing, but his manner betrayed the whole wretched story. They have prevailed upon him. Dana is away and forgotten. Yes; of course.

Alison was with him two hours yesterday. There: the dream is past, and I am fully awake again."

He stood with his teeth set, and his hands clenched for a few moments, and the muscles of his face worked painfully. Then, drawing a long, deep breath, he suddenly seemed to grow calm.

"Well, why should I repine? Only one can win the race. I ought to say, `Heaven bless them!' She has won her way to my father's heart, and yes, Heaven bless her! I will try and take her hand by and by, and kiss her, and say, `Dearest sister, may you be very happy with the man of your choice!' Yes; we must be brothers once again. But I must go soon. I am too weak to bear it now."

There was a tap at the door.

"Yes. Come in."

The door opened, and Aunt Anne entered cautiously.

"Ah!" she cried, "not reading. I was so afraid of disturbing you, my dear. You have grown such a learned man I'm quite afraid of you."

"Nonsense, Aunt dear. A surgeon must keep himself _au courant_ with what is going on in his profession abroad."

"Of course he must, my dear, but he must not starve himself to death."

"No fear, Aunt," said Neil pleasantly. "I have no intention of trying any such experiment."

"Oh, but you are always trying to live without food, my dear, and you look pale, and your hair is beginning to show grey. Why, you look fifteen years older than Alison, and you are only four."

Neil winced.

"He looks brown, and hearty, and handsome, while you--"

"Look like an old professional man, Aunt," he said, laughing, but with a touch of bitterness in his tone. "So much the better for me. The world goes by appearances. It does not like boyish looking surgeons."

"Ah! it's a very foolish world, my dear. But now, look here. I am going to have a little extra dinner to-day because Sir Cheltnam is coming, and I want you to promise to come and take your father's place."

"Ask Alison."