She drew a deep breath, and found her voice.
"I should certainly not dream of attempting such a thing without the doctor's permission." His grave face did not alter.

His eyes looked directly into hers and it seemed to Nan for the first time that they held something of a domineering expression.
She turned her head away with a quick frown.

She also made a slight, ineffectual effort to free her hand.

But he did not appear to notice either gesture.
"Yes," he said, in his slow way, "it is out of the question, and so I have asked your father to take care of you for me until my return--for, unfortunately, I cannot postpone my own departure." Nan's lips quivered.

She was beginning to feel hysterical.