Maud was silent a moment; an anxiety she had felt while she was waiting for Thurso to come in last night reminded her again of its presence. She did not much want to speak of it, but, after all, she was speaking to the old doctor whom she had known since she was a child. Also, she very much wanted to be reassured. "He takes laudanum when he is in great pain," she said. "Is that wise?" "It would be unwise of him to do so frequently, or continue doing so for long. There, again, is a reason why we do not want his nerves to form the habit of pain. I did not know, by the way, that he took it. It was prescribed for him, of course." "Oh yes; I know it was." Dr. Symes seemed to dismiss that from his mind. "Then it is no business of mine," he said. "Now I hope--and to-day there is cause for hoping--that we have seen the worst of this epidemic. There has been no fresh case to-day, so before many days are over I think Lord Thurso can get away. I tell you frankly that I shall be glad when he can." "Ought he to go now, do you think?" asked Maud. Dr. Symes considered this before he replied. "No, I think he ought to stop here," he said at length. "It is true he is running a certain danger of producing a chronic irritation and--how shall I say it?--exasperation of nerves. Also, there is a certain risk in continuing to take laudanum. But, after all, he is sensible, and he is certainly brave, and I think for the present his sense of duty is right in keeping him here. Our orders and the nurses' orders are obeyed when they know he is here and is backing us up. You have no idea of the difficulties we had before you and he came. Well, I must get back to the village again. And, Lady Maud, I like plucky people like you and your brother. Good night. The patients will begin to arrive early to-morrow." * * * * *