Instead of the doctor coming up to us, I was sent for to see the doctor.  I thought this change of affairs rather odd, but Mrs. Rubelle did not appear to be affected by it in any way.  I left her still calmly looking out of the window, and still silently enjoying the country air.

Mr. Dawson was waiting for me by himself in the breakfast-room.

“About this new nurse, Mrs. Michelson,” said the doctor.

“Yes, sir?”

“I find that she has been brought here from London by the wife of that fat old foreigner, who is always trying to interfere with me.  Mrs. Michelson, the fat old foreigner is a quack.”

This was very rude.  I was naturally shocked at it.

“Are you aware, sir,” I said, “that you are talking of a nobleman?”

“Pooh!  He isn’t the first quack with a handle to his name.  They’re all Counts—­hang ’em!”

“He would not be a friend of Sir Percival Glyde’s, sir, if he was not a member of the highest aristocracy—­excepting the English aristocracy, of course.”

“Very well, Mrs. Michelson, call him what you like, and let us get back to the nurse.  I have been objecting to her already.”

“Without having seen her, sir?”

“Yes, without having seen her.  She may be the best nurse in existence, but she is not a nurse of my providing.  I have put that objection to Sir Percival, as the master of the house.  He doesn’t support me.  He says a nurse of my providing would have been a stranger from London also, and he thinks the woman ought to have a trial, after his wife’s aunt has taken the trouble to fetch her from London.  There is some justice in that, and I can’t decently say No.  But I have made it a condition that she is to go at once, if I find reason to complain of her.  This proposal being one which I have some right to make, as medical attendant, Sir Percival has consented to it.  Now, Mrs. Michelson, I know I can depend on you, and I want you to keep a sharp eye on the nurse for the first day or two, and to see that she gives Miss Halcombe no medicines but mine.  This foreign nobleman of yours is dying to try his quack remedies (mesmerism included) on my patient, and a nurse who is brought here by his wife may be a little too willing to help him.  You understand?  Very well, then, we may go upstairs.  Is the nurse there?  I’ll say a word to her before she goes into the sick-room.”

We found Mrs. Rubelle still enjoying herself at the window.  When I introduced her to Mr. Dawson, neither the doctor’s doubtful looks nor the doctor’s searching questions appeared to confuse her in the least.  She answered him quietly in her broken English, and though he tried hard to puzzle her, she never betrayed the least ignorance, so far, about any part of her duties.  This was doubtless the result of strength of mind, as I said before, and not of brazen assurance, by any means.

We all went into the bedroom.