"Won't you come in too for a moment, Virginia?" asked Mrs. Engle.
"Roddy will be glad to see you; he has asked about you."
But Virginia made an excuse; it was Patten's case and after what had
occurred between herself and Patten she had no intention of so much as
seeming to overstep the professional lines. The following day,
however, she did go to see him. Patten himself, stiff and boorish,
asked her to. His patient had asked for her several times, knowing
that she was in the building and marking how she made an exception and
refused to look in on him while all of his other friends were doing so,
some of them coming many miles. Patten told her that Norton was not
well by any means yet and that he did not intend to have him worried up
over an imagined slight. So Virginia did as she was bid.
Mrs. Engle was in the room, bending over the bed with a dampened towel
to lay upon Norton's forehead; he showed a sign of fever and his head
ached constantly. He looked about quickly as the girl came in, his
hand stirring a little, offering itself. She took it by way of
greeting and sat down in the chair drawn up at his side.
"It's good of you to come!" he said quickly, his eyes brightening. "I
was beginning to wonder if I had offended you in some way? You see,
everybody has run in but you.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178