Thereupon he abandoned himself to Rachel.  She did as she pleased with him, and he never opposed.  Seven bruises could be counted on his left side.  He permitted himself to be formally and completely put to bed.  He drank half a glass of hot milk, and then said that he could not possibly swallow any more.  Everything had been done that ought to be done and that could be done.  And Rachel kept assuring herself that there was not the least cause for anxiety.  She also told herself that she had been a ninny once that morning, and that once was enough.  Nevertheless, she remained apprehensive, and her apprehensions increased.  It was Louis’ unnatural manageableness that disturbed her.

And when, about three hours later, he murmured, “Old girl, I feel pretty bad.”

“I knew it,” she said to herself.

His complaint was like a sudden thunderclap in her ears, after long faint rumblings of a storm.

Towards tea-time she decided that she must send for the doctor again.  Louis indeed demanded the doctor.  He said that he was very ill.  His bruised limbs and his damaged face caused him a certain amount of pain.  It was not, however, the pain that frightened him, but a general and profound sensation of illness.  He could describe no symptoms.  There were indeed no symptoms save the ebbing of vitality.  He said he had never in his life felt as he felt then.  His appearance confirmed the statement.  The look of his eyes was tragic.  His hands were pale.  His agonized voice was extremely distressing to listen to.  The bandages heightened the whole sinister effect.  Dusk shadowed the room.  Rachel lit the gas and drew the blinds.  But in a few moments Louis complained of the light, and she had to lower the jet.

The sounds of the return of Mrs. Tams could be heard below.  Mrs. Tams had received instructions to bring the doctor back with her, but Rachel’s ear caught no sign of the doctor.  She went out to the head of the stairs.  The doctor simply must be there.  It was not conceivable that when summoned he should be “out” twice in one day, but so it was.  Mrs. Tams, whispering darkly from the dim foot of the stairs, said that Mrs. Yardley hoped that he would be in shortly, but could not be sure.

“What am I to do?” thought Rachel.  “This is a crisis.  Everything depends on me.  What shall I do?  Shall I send for another doctor?” She decided to risk the chances and wait.  It would be too absurd to have two doctors in the house.  What would people say of her and of Louis, if the rumour ran that she had lost her head and filled the house with doctors when the case had no real gravity?  People would say that she was very young and inexperienced, and a freshly married wife, and so on.  And Rachel hated to be thought young or freshly married.  Besides, another doctor might be “out” too.  And further, the case could not be truly serious.  Of course, if afterwards it did prove to be serious, she would never forgive herself.