He wants a nurse to give him some little nourishment when he wakes up, and that is pretty nearly all." "I shall bring him the best possible nurse," Mr.Strafford said.

"Mrs.
Costello wishes to come and remain here." The doctor looked at him curiously.
"Mrs.Costello is my patient also," he said; "I am half inclined to forbid her coming." "She is your patient, doctor! How is that?
I thought she was looking ill, though she denies it." "She is not ill; but as you are an old friend and adviser, I don't mind telling you that her health is in a critical state, and that I have forbidden her all excitement and fatigue." 'Much use,' he added to himself, in a parenthesis.
Mr.Strafford looked troubled.
"She must come here, nevertheless," he said.

"Even if it were possible to keep her away, it would do no good.

She would excite herself still more." "Mr.Strafford," said the doctor, "If I thought that Mrs.Costello was coming here out of mere charity, I should tell her that charity begins at home, and that she had more reason to think of herself and her daughter than of any prisoner in the world.

However, I _don't_ think it; and, therefore, all I have to say is, if you have any regard for her or for Miss Costello, don't let her do more than is absolutely necessary.
Good morning." And the busy little man hurried off, and left Mr.Strafford with a new uneasiness in his mind.
Mrs.Elton, who came in and out at intervals to see if Christian wanted anything, made her appearance immediately after, and he took the opportunity of leaving.