The groans continued for a long while: the misery of hearing them! After a while they ceased: then Richard opened the door, hastily, it seemed, and called "Sophie." Sophie ran forward, and the door closed again.

There was a long silence, time enough for those who were outside to imagine all manner of horrid possibilities.

Then the Doctor and Richard came out.
"How is he, Doctor ?" said Charlotte Benson, bravely, going to meet them, while I hung trembling over the landing-place.
"Oh better, better, very comfortable," said the Doctor, in his calm professional tone.
I could not help thinking those groans had not denoted a very high state of comfort; but maybe the Doctor knew best how people with dislocated shoulders and broken ribs are apt to express their sentiments of satisfaction.
I listened with more than interest to their plans for the night: the Doctor was going away at once; two of the servants and Patrick were to relieve each other in sitting by him, while Richard was to throw himself on the sofa in the hall, to be at hand if anything were needed.
"Which means, that you are to be awake all night," said Charlotte Benson.

"You have more need of rest than we.

Let Sophie and me take your place." Richard looked gratefully and kindly at her, but refused.