CHAPTER X. DR JOHN.

wnofBouquin-Moisi,anduponhisprescribingchangeofairandtravelasremedies,hewasretainedtoaccompanythetimidpatientonatourofsomeweeksitbutremained,therefore,forthenewdoctortocontinuehisattendanceattheRueFossette. IoftensawhimwhenhecameforMadamewouldnottrustthelittleinvalidtoTrinette,butrequiredmetospendmuchofmytimeinthenursery.Ithinkhewasskilful.Fifinerecoveredrapidlyunderhiscare,yetevenherconvalescencedidnothastenhisdismissal.DestinyandMadameBeckseemedinleague,andbothhadruledthatheshouldmakedeliberateacquaintancewiththevestibule,theprivatestaircaseandupperchambersoftheRueFossette. NosoonerdidFifineemergefromhishandsthanDésiréedeclaredherselfill.Thatpossessedchildhadageniusforsimulation,andcaptivatedbytheattentionsandindulgencesofasick-room,shecametotheconclusionthatanillnesswouldperfectlyaccommodatehertastes,andtookherbedaccordingly.Sheactedwell,andhermotherstillbetterforwhilethewholecasewastransparenttoMadameBeckastheday,shetreateditwithanastonishinglywell-assuredairofgravityandgoodfaith. Whatsurprisedmewas,thatDr.John(sotheyoungEnglishmanhadtaughtFifinetocallhim,andwealltookfromherthehabitofaddressinghimbythisname,tillitbecameanestablishedcustom,andhewasknownbynootherintheRueFossette)—thatDr.JohnconsentedtacitlytoadoptMadame’stactics,andtofallinwithhermanoeuvres.Hebetrayed,indeed,aperiodofcomicdoubt,castoneortworapidglancesfromthechildtothemother,indulgedinanintervalofself-consultation,butfinallyresignedhimselfwithagoodgracetoplayhispartinthefarce.Désiréeeatlikearaven,gambolleddayandnightinherbed,pitchedtentswiththesheetsandblankets,loungedlikeaTurkamidstpillowsandbolsters,divertedherselfwiththrowinghershoesatherbonneandgrimacingathersisters—over-flowed,inshort,withunmeritedhealthandevilspiritsonlylanguishingwhenhermammaandthephysicianpaidtheirdiurnalvisit.MadameBeck,Iknew,wasglad,atanyprice,tohaveherdaughterinbedoutofthewayofmischiefbutIwonderedthatDr.Johndidnottireofthebusiness. Everyday,onthismerepretextofamotive,hegavepunctualattendanceMadamealwaysreceivedhimwiththesameempressement,thesamesunshineforhimself,thesameadmirablycounterfeitedairofconcernforherchild.Dr.Johnwroteharmlessprescriptionsforthepatient,andviewedhermotherwithashrewdlysparklingeye.Madamecaughthisrallyinglookswithoutresentingthem—shehadtoomuchgoodsenseforthat.Suppleastheyoungdoctorseemed,onecouldnotdespisehim—thispliantpartwasevidentlynotadoptedinthedesigntocurryfavourwithhisemployer:whilehelikedhisofficeatthepensionnat,andlingeredstrangelyabouttheRueFossette,hewasindependent,almostcarelessinhiscarriagethereandyet,too,hewasoftenthoughtfulandpreoccupied. Itwasnotperhapsmybusinesstoobservethemysteryofhis