“I must go, I can’t bear it any longer; I will only just listen,” said Henrietta; “I will not be a moment.”

“Let me have the book, my dear,” said her mother, who knew but too well the length of Henrietta’s moments, and who had just, by means of a great effort, succeeded in making herself take interest in the book.

Henrietta gave it to her, and darted off.  The door of Fred’s room was ajar, and she entered.  Aunt Geoffrey, Bennet, and Judith were standing round the bed, her aunt sponging away the blood that was flowing from Frederick’s temples.  His eyes were closed, and he now and then gave long gasping sighs of oppression and faintness.  “Leeches!” thought Henrietta, as she started with consternation and displeasure.  “This is pretty strong!  Without telling me or mamma!  Well, this is what I call doing something with him indeed.”

She advanced to the table, but no one saw her for more than a minute, till at last Aunt Geoffrey stepped quickly up to it in search of some bottle.

“Let me do something,” said Henrietta, catching up the bottle that she thought likely to be the right one.

Her aunt looked vexed, and answered in a low quick tone, “You had better stay with your mamma.”

“But why are you doing this?  Is he worse?  Is Mr. Philip Carey here?  Has he ordered it?”

“He is not come yet.  My dear, I cannot talk to you:  I should be much obliged if you would go back to your mamma.”

Aunt Geoffrey went back to Fred, but a few minutes after she looked up and still saw Henrietta standing by the table.  She came up to her, “Henrietta, you are of no use here; every additional person oppresses him; your mamma must be kept tranquil.  Why will you stay?”

“I was just going,” said Henrietta, taking this hurrying as an additional offence, and walking off in a dignified way.

It was hard to say what had affronted her most, the proceeding itself, the neglect, or the commands which Aunt Geoffrey had presumed to lay upon her, and away she went to her mamma, a great deal too much displeased, and too distrustful to pay the smallest attention to any precautions which her aunt might have tried to impress upon her.

“Well!” asked her mother anxiously.

“She would not let me stay,” answered Henrietta.  “She has been putting on leeches.”

“Leeches!” exclaimed her mother.  “He must be much worse.  Poor fellow!  Is Mr. Carey here?”

“No, that is the odd thing.”

“Has he not been sent for?”

“I am sure I don’t know.  Aunt Geoffrey seems to like to do things in her own way.”

“It must be very bad indeed if she cannot venture to wait for him!” said Mrs. Frederick Langford, much alarmed.

“And never to tell you!” said Henrietta.

“O, that was her consideration.  She knew how foolishly anxious I should be.  I have no doubt that she is doing right.  How did he seem to be?”