If I need a doctor, there is my own, an Italian, the
same for years."

"An Italian? Do you think they're as good?"

"Better for my own case."

"Gerald, it's my advice to you to go right to bed and let your doctor
come and prescribe. A cold is nothing in a way, but a neglected cold can
grow into a mean sort of thing. Say you'll do it. Don't you know how
good it will feel to you just to give in and go to bed and let some one
else do all the looking after you? Oh, I wish I could speak Italian
enough to have a talk with your Giovanna."

"Giovanna has taken care of me and my _malanni_ for years. She
gives me tar-water, and rice-water, and tamarind-water, and linden-tea,
and cassia. She threatened me this morning with a sinapism if I were not
better by evening. I shall be better. I do not wish for a sinapism."

"Is that a poultice on your chest? I guess it's what you need. Now, if I
have any influence with you, Gerald, if you love me one little bit,
you'll promise to go right to bed, and you'll give me your doctor's
address so that on my way home I can leave word for him to come."

"You shall not take that trouble. I can send Gaetano."

"You promise me you'll do it, then?"

"I seem to have been left no choice, dear lady."

"That's real sweet of you. You'll go to bed the minute I've gone?"

"Yes. But don't go quite yet!"

"With that temperature, I don't see how you can care who stays or who
goes, or anything in the world but to lay your head down on a pillow. I
won't stay any longer now. Go to bed like a good boy. To-morrow I'll run
in and see how you're getting along."

His last word was, after a moment of seeming embarrassment:

"I hope Miss Madison will be able to come with you next time."

"Yes, yes," said Aurora, lightly, taking it for a mere amiable message
with which he was charging her for Estelle.

* * * * *

Fever no doubt colored all Gerald's dreams that night, and was in part
responsible next day for his thoughts, as he passed from languor to
restlessness, and from impatience back to the peace of the certain
knowledge that before evening he should have visitors--fair visitors.

When it seemed to him nearly time for them, he ordered Giovanna to make
the room of a beautiful and perfect neatness, hiding all the medicine
bottles and humble signs that one is mortal. She was directed to lay
across his white counterpane that square of brocade which often formed