They reached the door, and Mrs.Yorke flung it open with a flurry.
"Here he is at last, my poor child!" she exclaimed.
The sight of Alice lying on a lounge quite effaced Mrs.Yorke from the Doctor's mind.

The next second he had taken the girl's hand, and holding it with a touch that would not have crumpled a butterfly's wings, he was taking a flitting gauge of her pulse.

Mrs.Yorke continued to talk volubly, but the Doctor took no heed of her.
"A little rest with fixation, madam, is all that is necessary," he said quietly, at length, when he had made an examination.

"But it must be rest, entire rest of limb and body--and mind," he added after a pause.
"Will you ask Mrs.Gates to send me a kettle of hot water as soon as possible ?" Mrs.Yorke had never been so completely ignored by any physician.

She tossed her head, but she went to get the water.
"So my young man Keith found you and brought you down the Ridge ?" said the Doctor presently to the girl.
"Yes; how do you know ?" she asked, her blue eyes wide open with surprise.
"Never mind; I may tell you next time I come, if you get well quickly," he said smiling.
"Who is he ?" she asked.
"He is the teacher of the school over the Ridge--what is known as the Ridge College," said the Doctor, with a smile.
Just at this moment Mrs.Yorke bustled in.
"Alice, I thought the Doctor said you were not to talk." The Doctor's face wore an amused expression.
"Well, just one more question," said the girl to him.