He understood that it was good for Colina to unburden her breast.
"Ah, thank God I have you!" she murmured.
They heard the doctor coming, and Colina drew away.

She introduced the two men.
"Mr.Doane is my friend," she said.

"He is one of us." The doctor favored Ambrose with a glance of astonishment before making his professional announcement.

Ambrose saw the typical hanger-on of a trading-post, a white man of Gaviller's age, careless in dress, with a humorous, intelligent face, showing the ravages of a weak will.

At present, with the sole responsibility of an important case on his shoulders, he looked something like the man he was meant to be.
It was no time for commonplaces.
"John is conscious," he said directly.