Sir Lucius’ sentence ended abruptly. His sister entered the room. She
greeted Frank and inquired whether he had enjoyed his journey. The story
of the accident was told to her. It was evident at once that she took
a keen interest in the sprained ankle. Priscilla, describing the scene
afterwards to Rose, the under housemaid, said that Miss Lentaigne’s eyes
gleamed and sparkled with joy. Every one in the household had for many
weeks carefully refrained from illness or disability of any kind. If
Miss Lentaigne’s eyes really did sparkle they expressed a perfectly
natural delight. There is nothing more trying than to possess a power of
healing and to find no opportunity for exercising it.
“Perhaps,” she said, “Frank and I may have a little talk together after
luncheon.”
Sir Lucius was a man of hospitable instincts with high old-fashioned
ideas of the courtesy due by a host to his guest. He did not think it
quite fair to subject Frank to a course of Christian Science. But he
was also very much afraid of his sister, whom he recognised as his
intellectual superior. He cleared his throat and made a nervous protest
on Frank’s behalf.
“I’m not sure, Juliet,” he said, “I’m really not at all sure that your
theory quite applies to sprains, especially ankles.”
Miss Lentaigne smiled very gently. Her face expressed a tolerant
patience with the crude ideas entertained by her brother.
“Of course,” Sir Lucius went on, “there’s a great deal in your idea.
I’ve always said so. In the case of any internal disease, nerves you
know, and that kind of thing where there’s nothing actually visible, I’m
sure it works out admirably, quite admirably, but with a sprained ankle!
Come now, Juliet, there’s the swelling you know. You can’t deny the
swelling. Hang it all, you can measure the swelling with a tape. Is your
ankle much swelled, Frank?”
“A good deal. But it’s not worth making a fuss about. It’ll be all
right.”
Miss Lentaigne smiled again. In her opinion it was all right already.
There was not really any swelling, although Frank, in his ignorance,
might honestly think there was. She hoped, after luncheon, to convince
him of these pleasant truths.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account