"
"But is the solicitude of Lancashire in this matter entirely
disinterested?"
"It is no business of mine to say. I merely indicate an example of
how a powerful commercial interest might hamper a
Government intent in the first place on the larger interests of
humanity."
Orde broke off to listen a moment. "There's Dr. Lathrop talking to
my wife in the drawing-room," said he.
"Surely not; that's a lady's voice, and if my ears don't deceive me,
an American."
"Exactly, Dr. Eva McCreery Lathrop, chief of the new Women's
Hospital here, and a very good fellow forbye. Good-morning,
Doctor," he said, as a graceful figure came out on the veranda,
"you seem to be in trouble. I hope Mrs. Orde was able to help
you."
"Your wife is real kind and good, ] always come to her when I'm in
a fix but I fear it's more than comforting I want."
"You work too hard and wear yourself out," said Orde, kindly.
"Let me introduce my friend, Mr. Pagett, just fresh from home, and
anxious to learn his India. You could tell him something of that
more important half of which a mere man knows so little."
"Perhaps I could if I'd any heart to do it, but I'm in trouble, I've lost
a case, a case that was doing well, through nothing in the world
but inattention on the part of a nurse I had begun to trust. And
when I spoke only a small piece of my mind she collapsed in a
whining heap on the floor.
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