CHAPTER VI

Theordealwasnotsodreadful,afterall.Dr.Trentwasasgruffandabruptasusual,buthedidnottellherailmentwasimaginary.Afterhehadlistenedtohersymptomsandaskedafewquestionsandmadeaquickexamination,hesatforamomentlookingatherquiteintently.Valancythoughthelookedasifheweresorryforher.Shecaughtherbreathforamoment.Wasthetroubleserious?Oh,itcouldn’tbe,surely—itreallyhadn’tbotheredhermuch—onlylatelyithadgotalittleworse. Dr.Trentopenedhismouth—butbeforehecouldspeakthetelephoneathiselbowrangsharply.Hepickedupthereceiver.Valancy,watchinghim,sawhisfacechangesuddenlyashelistened,“‘Lo—yes—yes—what?—yes—yes”—abriefinterval—“MyGod!” Dr.Trentdroppedthereceiver,dashedoutoftheroomandupstairswithoutevenaglanceatValancy.Sheheardhimrushingmadlyaboutoverhead,barkingoutafewremarkstosomebody—presumablyhishousekeeper.Thenhecametearingdownstairswithaclubbaginhishand,snatchedhishatandcoatfromtherack,jerkedopenthestreetdoorandrusheddownthestreetinthedirectionofthestation. Valancysataloneinthelittleoffice,feelingmoreabsolutelyfoolishthanshehadeverfeltbeforeinherlife.Foolish—andhumiliated.SothiswasallthathadcomeofherheroicdeterminationtoliveuptoJohnFosterandcastfearaside.Notonlywassheafailureasarelativeandnon-existentasasweetheartorfriend,butshewasnotevenofanyimportanceasapatient.Dr.Trenthadforgottenherverypresenceinhisexcitementoverwhatevermessagehadcomebythetelephone.ShehadgainednothingbyignoringUncleJamesandflyinginthefaceoffamilytradition. Foramomentshewasafraidshewasgoingtocry.Itwasallso—ridiculous.ThensheheardDr.Trent’shousekeepercomingdownthestairs.Valancyroseandwenttotheofficedoor. “Thedoctorforgotallaboutme,”shesaidwithatwistedsmile. “Well,that’stoobad,”saidMrs.Pattersonsympathetically.“Butitwasn’tmuchwonder,poorman.Thatwasatelegramthey’phonedoverfromthePort.HissonhasbeenterriblyinjuredinanautoaccidentinMontreal.Thedoctorhadjusttenminutestocatchthetrain.Idon’tknowwhathe’lldoifanythinghappenstoNed—he’sjustboundupi