Page:Round the Red Lamp.djvu/108

 There was immeasurable consolation to him in that homely cup of tea. It wasn't so very bad after all if his wife could think of such things. So light-hearted was he that he asked for a cup also. He had just finished it when the doctor arrived, with a small black leather bag in his hand.

'Well, how is she?' he asked genially.

'Oh, she's very much better,' said Johnson, with enthusiasm.

'Dear me, that's bad!' said the doctor. 'Perhaps it will do if I look in on my morning round?'

'No, no,' cried Johnson, clutching at his thick frieze overcoat. 'We are so glad that you have come. And, doctor, please come down soon and let me know what you think about it.'

The doctor passed upstairs, his firm, heavy steps resounding through the house. Johnson could hear his boots creaking as he walked about the floor above him, and the sound was a consolation to him. It was crisp and decided, the tread of a man who had plenty of self-confidence. Presently, still straining his ears to catch what was going on, he heard the scraping of a chair as it was drawn along the floor, and a moment later he heard the door fly open and someone come rushing downstairs.