She is ill, sir, very, very ill." "Ill! and not tell me!" "She kept it from you, my poor friend, not to distress you; and she tried to keep it from me, but how could she?
For two months she has had some terrible complaint--it is destroying her.

She is the ghost of herself.

Oh, my poor child! my child!" The old man sobbed aloud.

The young man stood trembling, and ashy pale.
Still, the habits of his profession, and the experience of dangers overcome, together with a certain sense of power, kept him up; but, above all, love and duty said, "Be firm." He asked for an outline of the symptoms.
They alarmed him greatly.
"Let us lose no more time," said he.

"I will see her at once." "Do you object to my being present ?" "Of course not." "Shall I tell you what Dr.Snell says it is, and Mr.Wyman ?" "By all means--after I have seen her." This comforted Mr.Lusignan.He was to get an independent judgment, at all events.
When they reached the top of the stairs, Dr.Staines paused and leaned against the baluster.