‘Does it interest you, Hubert? I am too feeble to move very far. I must find a home either here in the village or at Agworth.’ He looked at her with compassion, with remorse. ‘And you, my boy?’ asked his mother, raising her eyes gently. ‘I? Oh, the selfish never come to harm, be sure! Only the gentle and helpless have to suffer; that is the plan of the world’s ruling.’ ‘The world is not ruled by one who thinks our thoughts, Hubert.’ He had it on his lips to make a rejoinder, but checked the impulse. ‘Say good-night to me,’ his mother continued. ‘You must go and rest. If you still feel unwell in the morning, a messenger shall go to Belwick. You are very, very pale.’ Hubert held his hand to her and bent his head. Mrs. Eldon offered her cheek; he kissed it and went from the room. At seven o’clock on the following morning a bell summoned a servant to Hubert’s bedroom. Though it was daylight, a lamp burned near the bed; Hubert lay against pillows heaped high. ‘Let someone go at once for Dr. Manns,’ he said, appearing to speak with difficulty. ‘I wish to see him as soon as possible. Mrs. Eldon is to know nothing of his visit--you understand me!’ The servant withdrew. In rather less than an hour the doctor made his appearance, with every sign of having been interrupted in his repose. He was a spare man, full bearded and spectacled. ‘Something wrong?’ was his greeting as he looked keenly at his summoner. ‘I didn’t know you were here.’ ‘Yes,’ Hubert replied, ‘something is confoundedly wrong. I have been playing strange tricks in the night, I fancy.’ ‘Fever?’ ‘As a consequence of something else. I shall have to tell you what must be repeated to no one, as of course you will see. Let me see, when was it?--Saturday to-day? Ten days ago, I had a pistol-bullet just here,’--he touched his right side. ‘It was extracted, and I seemed to be not much the worse. I have just come from Germany.’ Dr. Manns screwed his face into an expression of sceptical amazement. ‘At present,’ Hubert continued, trying to laugh, ‘I feel considerably the worse. I don’t think I could move if I tried. In a few minutes, ten to one, I shall begin talking foolery. You must keep people away; get what help is needed. I may depend upon you?’ The doctor nodded, and, whistling low, began an examination. CHAPTER III