She made no pretense of answering him. It seemed inexpressibly cruel to her that he should have taken this time to go to New York,--unfeeling that he should tell her of it in palliation of his neglect. "I went to consult an oculist." At the word oculist all thought of herself of him, was gone. "An oculist! Oh, what did he say?" "Nothing definite, of course, until he has seen him. He will be down in the morning." "You had to go," she said, still unreconciled, "you could not send?" "No. I went directly from here to Dr. Helsor, a fine oculist in Washington. I thought that perhaps I could get him out here before night. When I reached his office I found him quite sick and unable to leave the house, though he saw me. He was not able to take any cases, and he advised me to go personally to Dr. Abelthorpe of New York and if possible to bring him down here to examine Philip." "Did you see him?" she asked eagerly. "Yes, at last. But I had to wait two days to do it. He had been called out of the city and was not back until yesterday. I wrote you at once from New York--but I have just found the letter on my table with some other mail." This was the explanation then. How simple it was. And his haste had been for Philip's sake! "I should not have gone if there had been any other way, but Dr. Helsor thought that if I could see Dr. Abelthorpe personally, I would be more apt to secure his services. It was a fortunate thing I did, for I think no letter, however urgent, would have brought him. He is on the point of going to Europe. When I explained the circumstances, however" (and named the fee, he might have added), "he agreed to come. It was hard waiting, Margaret, knowing that you were alone--" she looked away from him, fearing that he might see the wretchedness of those days graven on her face--"but I am glad I did." He went on to tell her what the doctor had said. "He gave me great hope, though he says that such cases require care and patience." "Oh, I will give him that! I will give up my life to him willingly, gladly, if only--Perhaps I would better go back with the doctor. Philip will be able to travel." "You forget that he is just starting abroad. He goes in a very few days." She looked up at him with a hopeless perplexity that wrung his heart. "From what I have learned of Dr. Abelthorpe I am very anxious for him to have the care of Philip's case. I am aware--" he was speaking guardedly as one who does not feel sure of his ground--"that I have no right to dictate your movements in the matter, Margaret, as I have formally relinquished the control of Philip, but--I hope I have not overstepped the bounds--I have arranged with Dr. Abelthorpe (conditionally, of course), that if you are willing, and he still thinks it best after seeing Philip, that you will go abroad with him so that he can take charge of Philip at once as his attending physician." "To go abroad?" she faltered.