Evelina's miserable secret slipping into the dress-maker's
possession.

When the doctor came she left him alone with Evelina, busying
herself in the shop that she might have an opportunity of seeing
him alone on his way out. To steady herself she began to sort a
trayful of buttons, and when the doctor appeared she was reciting
under her breath: "Twenty-four horn, two and a half cards fancy
pearl . . ." She saw at once that his look was grave.

He sat down on the chair beside the counter, and her mind
travelled miles before he spoke.

"Miss Bunner, the best thing you can do is to let me get a bed
for your sister at St. Luke's."

"The hospital?"

"Come now, you're above that sort of prejudice, aren't you?"
The doctor spoke in the tone of one who coaxes a spoiled child. "I
know how devoted you are--but Mrs. Ramy can be much better cared
for there than here. You really haven't time to look after her and
attend to your business as well. There'll be no expense, you
understand--"

Ann Eliza made no answer. "You think my sister's going to be
sick a good while, then?" she asked.

"Well, yes--possibly."