THE DOCTOR FINDS A WAY
"And now as to ways and means," said the doctor, when Jane felt better."You must leave by the night mail from Euston, the day after to-morrow.Can you be ready?""I am ready," said Jane.
"You must go as Nurse Rosemary Gray."
"I don't like that," Jane interposed."I should prefer a fictitious name.Suppose the real Rosemary Gray turned up, or some one who knows her.""My, dear girl, she is half-way to Australia by now, and you will see no one up there but the household and the doctor.Any one who turned up would be more likely to know you.We must take these risks.Besides, in case of complications arising, I will give you a note, which you can produce at once, explaining the situation, and stating that in agreeing to fill the breach you consented at my request to take the name in order to prevent any necessity for explanations to the patient, which at this particular juncture would be most prejudicial.I can honestly say this, it being even more true than appears.So you must dress the part, Jane, and endeavour to look the part, so far as your five foot eleven will permit; for please remember that I have described you to Dr.Mackenzie as 'a pretty, dainty little thing, refined and elegant, and considerably more capable than she looks.'""Dicky! He will instantly realise that I am not the person mentioned in your letter.""Not so, dear.Remember we have to do with a Scotchman, and a Scotchman never realises anything 'instantly.' The Gaelic mind works slowly, though it works exceeding sure.He will be exceeding sure, when he has contemplated you for a while, that I am a 'verra poor judge o' women,' and that Nurse Gray is a far finer woman than Idescribed.But he will have already created for Dalmain, from my letter, a mental picture of his nurse; which is all that really matters.We must trust to Providence that old Robbie does not proceed to amend it by the original.Try to forestall any such conversation.If the good doctor seems to mistrust you, take him on one side, show him my letter, and tell him the simple truth.But Ido not suppose this will be necessary.With the patient, you must remember the extreme sensitiveness of a blind man's hearing.Tread lightly.Do not give him any opportunity to judge of your height.
Try to remember that you are not supposed to be able to reach the top shelf of an eight-foot bookcase without the aid of steps or a chair.And when the patient, begins to stand and walk, try to keep him from finding out that his nurse is slightly taller than himself.
