"Oh, yes, and thank you so much. The walk will warm me, and it isn't far. Good-night, doctor." "Good-night," responded the doctor cordially as the car started down the hill towards the Hospital. He wondered whether Char would accept his offer to drive her out to Plessing on Christmas Eve, and reflected rather ruefully that, if so, it would certainly be a late and cold transit. But, at all events, his mission would have succeeded. He triumphantly told Lady Vivian next day that Char was coming to Plessing on Christmas Eve. "I put the case diplomatically, you know--just used a little tact, and she never made any difficulty at all. Delighted to come, if you ask me," said the doctor. "Thank you so much, Dr. Prince. I've told Sir Piers that she's coming, and he's so pleased. Don't let her start too late; it's so bitterly cold and the roads are very bad. I can't send the car in for her, as you know; since the chauffeur was called up, I've no one to drive it. But if you're kind enough to bring her--" "I'll bring her fast enough, if she'll let me," said the doctor. "Anyhow, she shall come, which is the point. She said at once that she'd come." "Yes," said Joanna dryly. "You won't expect me to be enthusiastic at such condescension, will you?" The doctor looked at her with concern evident in his shrewd, kindly gaze. He had known Joanna Vivian ever since she had come to Plessing as a bride, and had never heard that note of bitterness in her voice before. He told himself sadly that the long strain of Sir Piers's illness was telling on her at last, in spite of her splendid physique. In his heart the doctor did not believe that the strain would last much longer. "I wish you had some one here to keep you company," he said awkwardly. "Even Miss Bruce was better than no one." "She's only with Char for a few days. She'll soon be back, probably tomorrow. And meanwhile I had an offer of companionship only this morning. Do you know Mrs. Willoughby?" "Good Lord, yes!" said the doctor, and they both laughed. "I should _really_ like Char's Miss Jones to come out to me for a few days," said Joanna, rather wistfully. "She and I understand one another very well, and she's such a restful person." "A thoroughly nice girl, and most intelligent," warmly remarked the doctor, reflecting how sympathetic Miss Jones had shown herself to be over the question of Medical Boards. "Why shouldn't I bring her out with Miss Charmian on Thursday night?" "I only wish you would, but I don't want to throw Char into a fit." "I'll chance that," said the doctor grimly. "She'd only tell me that fits are a disease of the nervous system, and should be shown as N.S. on all Hospital returns." He told himself that if Lady Vivian wanted to see Miss Jones it was preposterous that she should not be allowed to have her out to Plessing. Diplomacy, the doctor reflected, could arrange the whole thing.