Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/175

Rh her arms. He was a thin, twisted child, with a white face and unhappy eyes. He clung miserably to the woman, staring at Garth over her shoulder. Garth looked after them as they passed through the outer door.

"I'm sorry about that little boy, Joan," he said, as he pulled himself to his feet.

"Well, Mister Pemberley," said the doctor, "how much more tan are you going to get? I wish I could send all my patients off to lighthouses! Now suppose you let Miss Robinson roll up a yard or two of those trousers and let's look at things."

He laid Garth down on a very hard, high table and proceeded to stretch him and poke him. He tickled Garth in unexpected places and made him laugh.

"Been sailing a lot, I suppose," said Dr. Stone, working vigorously, "and swimming, and all that. Not so cold out there now as when you were up here before, eh? Now suppose you try a little walking for me. I'll catch you."

Garth took exactly four steps, and collapsed into the doctor's arms.

"Better than last time, eh?" said Dr. Stone.