She was a
wholesome-looking Scotch girl with a strong Glasgow accent, and she
smiled on Esther in a friendly way.

"If you please, nurse, Miss Clifford is wanting to see you when you've
done dressing. She said there was no pertickler hurry."

"I'll come at once," said Esther promptly, and followed her out of the
room, back to the central landing, and a few yards along another
hallway to the right. Here, in an open doorway, Miss Clifford was
standing. At once Esther noticed in her appearance a marked
alteration; her strong colour had faded and she looked tired and
distressed. However, she smiled in a welcoming fashion and extended
her hand as to a friend.

"Ah, I am glad you could come, Miss Rowe," she exclaimed with an air of
relief. "It was my first thought when Dr. Sartorius consented to come
to us. I felt I should so like to have you look after my brother."

She drew Esther into her room, which was comfortable and bright in a
solid, old-fashioned style.

"So you see," she said, closing the door and motioning Esther towards a
large easy chair by the fireplace, "my fears were well-grounded after
all. He has got typhoid--he had it then."

CHAPTER VIII

"I felt it from the first," continued Miss Clifford. "You see, his
symptoms were so exactly like Bannister's--that is the maid who is ill.
There was only this difference, that my brother was a good deal longer
developing his case. I don't know why, I'm sure, for he's so much
older and not in robust health, either. You'd have thought he'd
succumb more quickly than a young strong woman."

"You would think so," agreed Esther. "But of course there are
different types of typhoid. I've even seen people who had all the
symptoms fully developed, yet who never knew it and kept about the
whole time."

"Really!" Miss Clifford looked frankly astonished.

"How is Sir Charles now?"

"Why, not so ill as one might have expected," replied his sister more
cheerfully. "So far, we have much to be thankful for. The other nurse
will tell you what she thinks, and of course you'll see the chart, but
I believe I'm right in saying they consider it a mild case."

"I'm glad of that!"

"You'll see him after lunch. The other nurse is going off duty then
until about eleven to-night. To-morrow will see you straightened out
with regard to your hours. I thought we'd have you for the day,
because"--she laughed--"without meaning to descend to barefaced
flattery, yo