Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/109

 CHAPTER XI.

THE MEDICAL LADY INTERVENES.

Miss Prudence did not appear at afternoon tea, so the symptoms of her sister, her refusal, or, at least, disinclination to call in a doctor, her extraordinary confusion and contradictory statements, as detailed by Mrs. Wilcox, were canvassed with much freedom by the boarders present. Mrs. Wilcox discreetly abstained from mentioning her suspicions, or using the ugly word "infection," but she privately requested the medical lady to visit the invalid, and make a truthful report as to her condition.

The medical lady was a woman who had no weakness about her. She always recommended drastic remedies, and applied them if possible. She professed to enjoy her cold tub in the iciest weather. Nothing would persuade her that anyone who paled or