There was a possible father-in-law aspect that would have raised me from a death-bed.

I was hurrying away to carry out his wishes; when, however, my hand was on the key of the door, his voice recalled me: "Mr.Ross!" I did not like to hear him say "Mr." After he knew of my friendship with his daughter he had called me Malcolm Ross; and this obvious return to formality not only pained, but filled me with apprehension.
It must be something about Margaret.

I thought of her as "Margaret" and not as "Miss Trelawny", now that there was danger of losing her.

I know now what I felt then: that I was determined to fight for her rather than lose her.

I came back, unconsciously holding myself erect.
Mr.Trelawny, the keen observer of men, seemed to read my thought; his face, which was set in a new anxiety, relaxed as he said: "Sit down a minute; it is better that we speak now than later.