I washed and dressed and was ready when the doctor arrived. He went straight to Tristan and I could see by his expression that we had done right to call him immediately.
He said: “We’ll have to take care of him. It’s not pneumonia…yet. Well, we’ll do our best. He’s a strong little fellow, but he is young, very young. He didn’t seem all that bad when I saw him last.”
“I found him with the clothes off him,” said Nanny. “He was just in his little nightshirt…”
“Well, we’ll see what we can do.”
I could not believe this. Dorabella dead and now the child threatened. There was something evil in this place.
Matilda was deeply concerned.
“Poor little mite,” she said. “I thought it was just a cold and, in fact, when the doctor came yesterday, I didn’t think it was really necessary.”
“I’m glad he saw him yesterday,” I said. “He can see what a big change there has been.”
“It’s not…dangerous?”
“The doctor thinks it could be. It’s so sudden. I feel…” I turned away and she slipped her arm through mine.
She said: “I know. One thing after another. Life can be like that sometimes. Everything seems to go wrong.”
“Nanny went in this morning. She found him frozen. He had thrown off the bedclothes and the window was open—the one by his cot.”
“Did Nanny leave it open?”
“Oh, no! She would never do a thing like that. The wind was blowing straight down onto his cot and she wouldn’t let him be in a draught. The result might have been disastrous. Thank goodness she woke up when she did.”
“I suppose he kicked off his bedclothes. But who opened the window?”
“Nanny says she doesn’t understand it. She said she tucked him in so tightly that he couldn’t have thrown off the bedclothes. And she certainly didn’t leave the window open.”
“She must have. I expect she forgot. She is a little old.”
“I never thought of her age. She’s as efficient as ever. She looks after Tristan as she did after us. Little escapes her.”
“But to leave a window open like that.”
“I can’t believe she did.”
Matilda shrugged her shoulders. “Well, it has happened. The thing is to get Tristan well. Dr. Luce is very good. He will do what is best. Do you think I could see Tristan?”
“I don’t know what the doctor’s orders are. Let’s go up and see Nanny.”
Nanny Crabtree came to the nursery door.
“I’ve got to watch him,” she said. “If there is a change I’m to call the doctor at once.”
Matilda looked startled. “Is it as bad as that then?”
Nanny said: “I don’t want him left. Miss Violetta, I want you here.”
“Your friend…” began Matilda.
I had forgotten Richard. I looked at my watch. It was nine thirty. I had promised to be ready by ten.
“You should go out and have a pleasant day with him,” said Matilda.
“I couldn’t have a pleasant day. I’d be thinking all the time of what was happening to Tristan.”
“You should be here, Miss Violetta,” said Nanny Crabtree. “I don’t want anyone coming in here and opening windows.”
She looked fierce and angry. Matilda exchanged a glance with me.
I said to her: “You see that he is really ill.”
She tiptoed to the cot.
“Poor little thing,” she said. “He does look poorly.”
“I’ll pull him through,” said Nanny Crabtree. “And then I’ll have something to say if I find anyone opening windows in my nursery.” She turned to me. “I don’t want him throwing off the bedclothes. He’s got to be kept warm. The doctor will be back this afternoon to take a look at him.”
Matilda said: “If I can be of any help…”
“That is kind of you, Mrs. Lewyth,” said Nanny. “But we’ll be able to manage.”
Matilda looked at me helplessly.
I said to Nanny: “I’ll be back in a moment,” and went out with Matilda.
“You really shouldn’t disappoint that nice young man,” she said.
“I can’t help it.”
“I could be up there to help Nanny. You should go off with your friend.”
“I couldn’t. I must know what is going on. I shall telephone him and explain.”
I did. He was amazed and dismayed, and a little indignant. I could understand that. He had made this journey to see me. Yesterday had been a disappointment, and now this.
He said he would call at the house in the afternoon and rang off.
I felt very sorry, but my thoughts were really with Tristan. I knew he was in a precarious state. The doctor had hinted as much, and the fact that he thought it necessary to call again this afternoon confirmed that.
Nanny Crabtree and I sat in the nursery, every now and then glancing toward the cot. If he as much as moved, Nanny Crabtree was there, murmuring endearments, watching tenderly.
When she talked to me her indignation was apparent.
Someone had come into the room and opened the window. Why? Was it one of those fresh-air people who thought it wasn’t healthy unless you were blasted off your feet, and didn’t get goose pimples from the cold? If she could find the one who opened that window, she’d see that they didn’t show their face in her nursery ever again.
“I mean to say…to open a window. Why?”
I could not answer that question, and Matilda’s hint that Nanny was getting old and could have forgotten to shut it came into my mind. No…never. Not when she had been wrapping Tristan up and had been told by the doctor to keep him warm.
But who else? One of the maids who came up after Nanny Crabtree had left Tristan for the night? It was ludicrous. But if she had brought something in, thought the room seemed stuffy, might she not have opened the window? No one would have done such a thing. Could it really be that Nanny Crabtree herself had really forgotten to shut the window?
Whatever happened, it was done, and had its dire effect.
All through the morning we were with Tristan. Nanny Crabtree would not allow him to be left alone. If she had to go out of the room for a few minutes, she wanted me to be there.
Richard came in the late afternoon and wanted me to go back with him to the hotel. I said I could not concentrate on anything. I should be thinking of what was happening here.
“Tristan is very ill, indeed,” I said. “Nanny Crabtree wants me here.”
He said little and Matilda suggested he stay to dinner. He did. I went down to it knowing that Nanny Crabtree would let me know if there was any change. The doctor had been there and had said that at least the child’s condition had not worsened.
A pall hung over us all. Dermot joined us. There was a look of haggard misery on his face. Gordon tried to entertain Richard and they talked about the estate, the law, and the situation on the Continent. I was glad when the meal was over.
Richard left soon after. He was a little aloof. He would be leaving for London early next morning, for he was not sure how the trains ran on Sundays and he must be back in town by Monday.
It had been a disastrous visit; but my thoughts were all with Tristan.
During the night Nanny Crabtree and I took it in turns to sit with Tristan. I had a few hours sleep on her bed while she was on the watch.
In the morning, Tristan seemed to be breathing a little more easily. The doctor came and said he was well pleased. He thought we were going to avoid pneumonia after all.
“Now,” said Nanny Crabtree to me, “you are going to get a good night’s sleep tonight.”