While her arm was being bathed, Mrs. Crofton grew so pale that Janet
feared she was going to faint, and Rosamund was sent flying up to the
medicine cupboard to get some brandy.
Dr. O'Farrell was at home when telephoned for, but the quarter of an hour
which elapsed before he reached Old Place seemed very long to some of the
people waiting there. The doctor came in smiling, but his face altered
and grew very grave when he saw Mrs. Crofton's arm, and heard the
confused, excited account of what had happened.
To the patient he made light of the whole matter, but while someone was
putting on Mrs. Crofton's overshoes and while her evening cloak was being
brought in he moved a little aside with Jack, Mr. Tosswill, and Radmore.
None of them noticed that Timmy was hovering on the outskirts of the
group.
"I want to say," he began in a low voice, "that of course that cat will
have to be kept under observation, or else she'll have to be destroyed
and her body sent up to town to make sure of--you know what! Meanwhile,
no one must go near her. Where is she now?"
Mr. Tosswill looked vaguely round. "I think Betty took her into the
kitchen," he said slowly, and then he called out, "Betty?"
The girl came up.
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