They were followed by some
despairing sighs at the horrors of the prospect of being moved.
"Ah! what will you give me for letting you off?" said the Doctor.
Jock uttered a sound of relief, then, rather distrustfully, asked-—
"Why?"
"We can only get bearers enough for one; and as it is most important
to move your brother, while you will gain by a night's rest, he must
have the first turn."
"And welcome," said Jock; "my mother will stay with me."
"That's the very point," said Dr. Medlicott. "I want you not only to
give her up, but to do so cheerfully."
"I'm sure mother wants to stay with me. Armine does not need her
half so much."
"He does not require the same kind of attention; but he is in so
critical a state that I do not think I ought to separate her from
him."
"Why, what is the matter with him?" asked Jock, startled.
"Congestion of the right lung," said the doctor, seeing that he was
strong enough to bear the information, and feeling the need of
rousing him from his monopolising self-absorption.
"People get over that, don't they?" said Jock, with an awestruck
interrogation in his voice.
"They _do_; and I hope much from getting him into a warmer
atmosphere, but the child is so much reduced that the risk is great,
and I should not dare not to have his mother with him.
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