The three women obeyed, placing themselves in line as he had directed, and perceived that he lay upon the flat of his back, looking straight before him, because he could not turn on either side without great pain.

He scanned them and then said: 

“Ah, Violet, you are there!  You have a proper sense of duty, my girl.  So you have come to see how it is with me yourself, eh?”

“Yes, father; and also to stay and help to nurse you, it I may be permitted to do so.”

“Rubbish!  My wife can nurse me.  It is her place.  I don’t want a lot of other women around me!  I won’t have more than one in the room with me at a time!  Violet, get into your carriage and return to your home.”

“Oh, papa, how have I offended you?”

“Not in any way as yet; but you will offend me if you disobey me.  You must go home at once.  You are not in a condition to be of any service here.  You would only injure your own health, and distract the attention of these women from me.  Wherever there is a lot of women, there is sure to be more talk than duty.  So you must go.  When I get well, and you get strong again, you may come and stay as long as you like.  So, now, bid me good-by and be off with yourself.”

Violet, feeling much chagrined, went around to the side of the bed, took the hand of her father-in-law, bent over and kissed him good-by.

“Now, Cora, take her out and see her off.”

Violet took leave of her young mother-in-law, and followed Cora from the sick room.

“Now, Rose, close all the shutters; darken the room and sit beside the head of my bed.  Don’t speak until you are spoken to; don’t move; don’t even read; but sit still, silent, attentive, while I try to rest.”

Rose obeyed all his orders, and then sat like a dead woman, back in the resting chair beside him.  She had noted how weak and husky his voice had been in giving his instructions to his “womankind,” with what pain and effort he had spoken, while his strong will bore him through the interview, which, short as it was, had left him prostrate and exhausted.

Rose wished to offer him the cordial the doctor had left, but he had ordered her not to move or speak until she was spoken to, and Rose dared not disobey.  She did not know what might be the result of her passive obedience to him, nor, to tell the truth, did she very much care.  Rose was weary of life!

Meanwhile, Cora and Violet went down stairs together.

At six o’clock the doctor came, and made anxious inquiries into the state of the injured man; but Cora could only report that he seemed to have passed a quiet day, watched by his wife, but unapproached by any other member of his family, all of whom he had forbidden to come near him unless called.

“A very wise provision, my dear Mrs. Rothsay.  I will go up now and see him,” said Dr. Cummins.

A few minutes later Rose came down and entered the parlor, looking very faint and white except for two small, deep crimson spots on the cheeks.