Go down wi' ye, and leave her i' peace if yo're a man as can be called a man!' Her anger was rising as she caught sight of Sylvia's averted face.
It was flushed crimson, her eyes full of intense emotion of some kind, her lips compressed; but an involuntary twitching overmastering her resolute stillness from time to time.

Philip, who did not see the averted face, nor understand the real danger in which he was placing his wife, felt as though he must have one word, one responsive touch of the hand which lay passive in his, which was not even drawn away from the kisses with which he covered it, any more than if it had been an impassive stone.

The nurse had fairly to take him by the shoulders, and turn him out of the room.
In half an hour the doctor had to be summoned.

Of course, the nurse gave him her version of the events of the afternoon, with much _animus_ against Philip; and the doctor thought it his duty to have some very serious conversation with him.
'I do assure you, Mr.Hepburn, that, in the state your wife has been in for some days, it was little less than madness on your part to speak to her about anything that could give rise to strong emotion.' 'It was madness, sir!' replied Philip, in a low, miserable tone of voice.

The doctor's heart was touched, in spite of the nurse's accusations against the scolding husband.