to Chloe--"I think you will have to let me
send for a nurse, after all. You can't do everything, and Tochatti is
more or less disabled----"

He was surprised by the effect of his words. Tochatti turned to her
mistress eagerly, and began pouring out a stream of Italian which was
quite incomprehensible to Anstice, who was no better at modern languages
than the average public school and University product. And Chloe replied
in the same tongue, though without the wealth of gesture employed by the
other woman; while Anstice waited, silently, until the colloquy was
concluded.

Finally Chloe turned, apologetically, to him and explained the subject
of the woman's entreaties.

"Tochatti is so terribly upset at the idea of a strange woman coming to
nurse Cherry that I have promised to try to persuade you to reverse your
verdict," she said. "Do you mind? Of course if we can't manage you must
do as you think fit--but----"

"We will try, by all means." In spite of himself, he was touched by the
woman's fierce devotion to her charge. "And now I'll tell you exactly
what I want you to do until I come again this afternoon."

He proceeded to give them full instructions how to look after the child,
and when he had assured himself that they understood exactly what was to
be done, he took his leave, promising to call again in the course of a
few hours.

As he drove away he mused for a moment on the Italian woman's peculiar
manner towards him.

"Seems as if she hated me to speak to her ... she's never been like that
before--indeed, when Cherry broke her arm she used to welcome me quite
demonstratively." He smiled, then grew grave again. "Of course the woman
was in pain to-day--she was a queer colour, too--looked downright ill. I
expect the affair has been a shock to her as well as to the child."

And with that conclusion he dismissed Tochatti from his mind for the
time being, his thoughts reverting to the one subject which filled his
mental horizon to-day.

* * * * *

All through the bright September afternoon he sat alone in his
rarely-used drawing-room. The consulting-room was haunted ground to him
since the episode of the previous evening, and he could not bear to go
out into the village lest he might perhaps behold some signs of the
great event which was agitating peaceful Littlefield to-day.

But his imagination, unmercifully awakened from the stupor which had
temporarily lulled it to repose