Like the head of the legal firm of Townlinson & Sheppard, he had experienced a new sensation in the visit paid him by an indubitably modern young beauty, who wasted no word, and whose eyes, while he answered her amazingly clear questions, were as intelligently intent as those of an ardent and serious young medical student.What a surgical nurse she would have made! It seemed almost a pity that she evidently belonged to a class the members of which are rich enough to undertake the charge of entire epidemics, but who do not usually give themselves to such work, especially when they are young and astonishing in the matter of looks.
In addition to the work they did in the ballroom ward, Mount Dunstan and the vicar found much to do among the villagers.Ignorance and alarm combined to create dangers, even where they might not have been feared.Daily instruction and inspection of the cottages and their inmates was required.The knowledge that they were under control and supervision was a support to the frightened people and prevented their lapsing into careless habits.Also, there began to develop among them a secret dependence upon, and desire to please "his lordship," as the existing circumstances drew him nearer to them, and unconsciously they were attracted and dominated by his strength.The strong man carries his power with him, and, when Mount Dunstan entered a cottage and talked to its inmates, the anxious wife or surlily depressed husband was conscious of feeling a certain sense of security.
It had been a queer enough thing, this he had done--bundling the infected hoppers out of their leaking huts and carrying them up to the Mount itself for shelter and care.At the most, gentlefolk generally gave soup or blankets or hospital tickets, and left the rest to luck, but, "gentry-way" or not, a man who did a thing like that would be likely to do other things, if they were needed, and gave folk a feeling of being safer than ordinary soup and blankets and hospital tickets could make them.
But "where did the money come from?" was asked during the first days.Beds and doctors, nurses and medicine, fine brandy and unlimited fowls for broth did not come up from London without being paid for.Pounds and pounds a day must be paid out to get the things that were delivered "regular" in hampers and boxes.The women talked to one another over their garden palings, the men argued together over their beer at the public house.Was he running into more debt?
But even the village knew that Mount Dunstan credit had been exhausted long ago, and there had been no money at the Mount within the memory of man, so to speak.
One morning the matron with the sharp temper found out the truth, though the outburst of gratitude to Mount Dunstan which resulted in her enlightenment, was entirely spontaneous and without intention.Her doubt of his Mount Dunstan blood had grown into a sturdy liking even for his short speech and his often drawn-down brows.
"We've got more to thank your lordship for than common help," she said."God Almighty knows where we'd all ha'
been but for what you've done.Those poor souls you've nursed and fed----""I've not done it," he broke in promptly."You're mistaken; I could not have done it.How could I?""Well," exclaimed the matron frankly, "we WAS wondering where things came from.""You might well wonder.Have any of you seen Lady Anstruthers' sister, Miss Vanderpoel, ride through the village?
She used sometimes to ride this way.If you saw her you will remember it.'
"The 'Merican young lady!" in ejaculatory delight."My word, yes! A fine young woman with black hair? That rich, they say, as millions won't cover it.""They won't," grimly."Lord Dunholm and Lady Alanby of Dole kindly sent cheques to help us, but the American young lady was first on the field.She sent both doctors and nurses, and has supplied us with food and medicine every day.
As you say, Mrs.Brown, God Almighty knows what would have become of us, but for what she has done."Mrs.Brown had listened with rather open mouth.She caught her breath heartily, as a sort of approving exclamation.
"God bless her!" she broke out."Girls isn't generally like that.Their heads is too full of finery.God bless her, 'Merican or no 'Merican! That's what I say."Mount Dunstan's red-brown eyes looked as if she had pleased him.
"That's what I say, too," he answered."God bless her!"There was not a day which passed in which he did not involuntarily say the words to himself again and again.She had been wrong when she had said in her musings that they were as far apart as if worlds rolled between them.
Something stronger than sight or speech drew them together.
