Philip took up his hat and went to see the patient. It was hard upon eight o’clock when he came back. Doctor South was standing in the dining-room with his back to the fireplace.
“You’ve been a long time,” he said.
“I’m sorry. Why didn’t you start dinner?”
“Because I chose to wait. Have you been all this while at Mrs. Fletcher’s?”
“No, I’m afraid I haven’t. I stopped to look at the sunset on my way back, and I didn’t think of the time.”
Doctor South did not reply, and the servant brought in some grilled sprats. Philip ate them with an excellent appetite. Suddenly Doctor South shot a question at him.