Or, worse still, Mrs.Coombe, divining Esther's double motive, may have left the house purposely to escape seeing the doctor on her own account.

Esther well knew the stubbornness of which she was capable upon this one question, and the cunningness of it was like her.

She had made no objections; she had not troubled to refuse or to argue--she had simply gone out.
Well, it was something to feel that she, Esther, had done what she could.

At any rate, there was no time to worry, for the doctor was already coming up the walk.
Esther hurried to the door.

It relieved her to find that he seemed to expect her, and showed no offence on realising that the patient's nearest relative was not at home to receive him.