Even at such a moment as this she told herself that though she had, in a sort of way, a kind of right to lie to her husband, she had no sight to slander the doctor who had been so kind to her years ago.

"I ought to have sent him a card yesterday night," she said.

"Of course, I was a fool to go all that way, just on chance of finding a doctor in.

It stands to reason they've got to go out to people at all times of day." "I hope they gave you a cup of tea ?" he said.
And again she hesitated, debating a point with herself: if the doctor had a decent sort of servant, of course, she, Ellen Bunting, would have been offered a cup of tea, especially if she explained she'd known him a long time.
She compromised.

"I was offered some," she said, in a weak, tired voice.