It seemed so queer that they had talked so much and never remembered this simple thing that they laughed more than ever, because they had got into the humor to laugh at anything.  And in the midst of the fun the door opened and in walked Dr. Craven and Mrs. Medlock.

Dr. Craven started in actual alarm and Mrs. Medlock almost fell back because he had accidentally bumped against her.

“Good Lord!” exclaimed poor Mrs. Medlock, with her eyes almost starting out of her head.  “Good Lord!”

“What is this?” said Dr. Craven, coming forward.  “What does it mean?”

Then Mary was reminded of the boy Rajah again.  Colin answered as if neither the doctor’s alarm nor Mrs. Medlock’s terror were of the slightest consequence.  He was as little disturbed or frightened as if an elderly cat and dog had walked into the room.

“This is my cousin, Mary Lennox,” he said.  “I asked her to come and talk to me.  I like her.  She must come and talk to me whenever I send for her.”

Dr. Craven turned reproachfully to Mrs. Medlock.

“Oh, sir,” she panted.  “I don’t know how it’s happened.  There’s not a servant on the place that’d dare to talk—­they all have their orders.”

“Nobody told her anything,” said Colin, “she heard me crying and found me herself.  I am glad she came.  Don’t be silly, Medlock.”

Mary saw that Dr. Craven did not look pleased, but it was quite plain that he dare not oppose his patient.  He sat down by Colin and felt his pulse.

“I am afraid there has been too much excitement.  Excitement is not good for you, my boy,” he said.

“I should be excited if she kept away,” answered Colin, his eyes beginning to look dangerously sparkling.  “I am better.  She makes me better.  The nurse must bring up her tea with mine.  We will have tea together.”

Mrs. Medlock and Dr. Craven looked at each other in a troubled way, but there was evidently nothing to be done.

“He does look rather better, sir,” ventured Mrs. Medlock.  “But”—­thinking the matter over—­“he looked better this morning before she came into the room.”

“She came into the room last night.  She stayed with me a long time.  She sang a Hindustani song to me and it made me go to sleep,” said Colin.  “I was better when I wakened up.  I wanted my breakfast.  I want my tea now.  Tell nurse, Medlock.”

Dr. Craven did not stay very long.  He talked to the nurse for a few minutes when she came into the room and said a few words of warning to Colin.  He must not talk too much; he must not forget that he was ill; he must not forget that he was very easily tired.  Mary thought that there seemed to be a number of uncomfortable things he was not to forget.

Colin looked fretful and kept his strange black-lashed eyes fixed on Dr. Craven’s face.

“I want to forget it,” he said at last.  “She makes me forget it.  That is why I want her.”