"But perhaps, though he need not have put it so harshly, there was a grain of truth in what he said, and at least it was an honest expression of opinion." "Edgar was furious and kicked him out of the house--not actually, you know, but he told him very plainly what he thought of him. They had a frightful row, and he said all sorts of things to Edgar--impertinent, even libellous things. Poor dear, he was very good about it, and, for my sake, took no further steps against Dr. Stephens, because he did not wish me to be worried." "And since then?" "Since then I haven’t had anybody, and I’m just as well without anybody. Edgar is very clever. He studied medicine for a time before he went on the Stock Exchange, and I believe that it was because Stephens found that he knew a little too much that they quarrelled as they did. Edgar gives me all the medicine I need, which isn’t much--chiefly, sleeping-draughts. I used to have such dreadful nights before he took me in hand. Fancy! Dr. Stephens wanted to stop the sleeping-draughts." "I don’t wonder at that," said Isla quickly. "I should like to stop them, too." "You’d never be so cruel. Nobody would. Why, they are my greatest comfort. I suffer so with my head." "But it is very dangerous to use them, as you do, without proper medical supervision." "But, you see, I have medical supervision. My husband quite understands all about them." "It is very dangerous," asserted Isla firmly, "and I am surprised that Mr. Bodley-Chard does not see it." "Ah, now you are going to be cross and horrid, just as my first husband used to be. He hated ill-health. He was one of those great big, overpowering sort of men who never have a day’s illness in their lives. But he dropped down dead suddenly one day when we were lunching in the city together. Oh, it was dreadful! I can never forget Edgar’s kindness at that time. He was Mr. Bodley’s chief clerk and understood all his business. So, you see, when I married him it made everything very easy. I have not the smallest trouble about money now." Isla listened to all this with very mixed feelings, and she tried to be just in her judgment of Mr. Bodley-Chard. But she found that the most difficult of all the tasks set her at Hans Crescent. She tried to change the subject. "It’s a beautiful morning, Mrs. Chard. Won’t you let me help you to dress so that we may get out in the sunshine? Have you a carriage?"