`Goodmorning，sir，’saidhislordship，steppingforwardinthemosturbanemanner，andstoppingthedoctor，withahigh-bredresolutionimpossibletoresist，`Igreatlyfearyoufindnoimprovementinthesymptomstoday？’
`Ifinddecidedimprovement，’answeredMrDawson。
`Youstillpersistinyourloweringtreatmentofthiscaseoffever？’
continuedhislordship。
`Ipersistinthetreatmentwhichisjustifiedbymyownprofessionalexperience，’saidMrDawson。
`Permitmetoputonequestiontoyouonthevastsubjectofprofessionalexperience，’observedtheCount。`Ipresumetooffernomoreadvice——
Ionlypresumetomakeaninquiry。Youliveatsomedistance，sir，fromthegiganticcentresofscientificactivity——LondonandParis。Haveyoueverheardofthewastingeffectsoffeverbeingreasonablyandintelligiblyrepairedbyfortifyingtheexhaustedpatientwithbrandy，wine，ammonia，andquinine？Hasthatnewheresyofthehighestmedicalauthoritieseverreachedyourears——Yesorno？’
`WhenaprofessionalmanputsthatquestiontomeIshallbegladtoanswerhim，’saidthedoctor，openingthedoortogoout。`Youarenotaprofessionalman，andIbegtodeclineansweringyou。’
Buffetedinthisinexcusablyuncivilwayononecheek，theCount，likeapracticalChristian，immediatelyturnedtheother，andsaid，inthesweetestmanner，`Goodmorning，MrDawson。’
Ifmylatebelovedhusbandhadbeensofortunateastoknowhislordship，howhighlyheandtheCountwouldhaveesteemedeachother！
HerladyshiptheCountessreturnedbythelasttrainthatnight，andbroughtwithherthenursefromLondon。Iwasinstructedthatthisperson’snamewasMrsRubelle。Herpersonalappearance，andherimperfectEnglishwhenshespoke，informedmethatshewasaforeigner。
Ihavealwayscultivatedafeelingofhumaneindulgenceforforeigners。
Theydonotpossessourblessingsandadvantages，andtheyare，forthemostpart，broughtupintheblinderrorsofPopery。Ithasalsoalwaysbeenmypreceptandpractice，asitwasmydearhusband’spreceptandpracticebeforeme(seeSermonxxix，intheCollectionbythelateRev。SamuelMichelson，M。A。)，todoasIwouldbedoneby。OnboththeseaccountsIwillnotsaythatMrsRubellestruckmeasbeingasmall，wiry，slyperson，offiftyorthereabouts，withadarkbrownorCreolecomplexionandwatchfullightgreyeyes。NorwillImention，forthereasonsjustalleged，thatIthoughtherdress，thoughitwasoftheplainestblacksilk，inappropriatelycostlyintextureandunnecessarilyrefinedintrimmingandfinish，forapersoninherpositioninlife。Ishouldnotlikethesethingstobesaidofme，andthereforeitismydutynottosaythemofMrsRubelle。Iwillmerelymentionthathermannerswere，notperhapsunpleasantlyreserved，butonlyremarkablyquietandretiring——thatshelookedaboutheragreatdeal，andsaidverylittle，whichmighthavearisenquiteasmuchfromherownmodestyasfromdistrustofherpositionatBlackwaterPark；andthatshedeclinedtopartakeofsupper(whichwascuriousperhaps，butsurelynotsuspicious？)，althoughImyselfpolitelyinvitedhertothatmealinmyownroom。
AttheCount’sparticularsuggestion(solikehislordship’sforgivingkindness！)，itwasarrangedthatMrsRubelleshouldnotenteronherdutiesuntilshehadbeenseenandapprovedbythedoctorthenextmorning。I
satupthatnight。LadyGlydeappearedtobeveryunwillingthatthenewnurseshouldbeemployedtoattendonMissHalcombe。Suchwantofliberalitytowardsaforeigneronthepartofaladyofhereducationandrefinementsurprisedme。Iventuredtosay，`Mylady，wemustallremembernottobehastyinourjudgmentsonourinferiors——especiallywhentheycomefromforeignparts。’LadyGlydedidnotappeartoattendtome。Sheonlysighed，andkissedMissHalcombe’shandasitlayonthecounterpane。Scarcelyajudiciousproceedinginasick-room，withapatientwhomitwashighlydesirablenottoexcite。ButpoorLadyGlydeknewnothingofnursing——
nothingwhatever，Iamsorrytosay。
ThenextmorningMrsRubellewassenttothesitting-room，tobeapprovedbythedoctoronhiswaythroughtothebedroom。
IleftLadyGlydewithMissHalcombe，whowasslumberingatthetime，andjoinedMrsRubelle，withtheobjectofkindlypreventingherfromfeelingstrangeandnervousinconsequenceoftheuncertaintyofhersituation。
Shedidnotappeartoseeitinthatlight。Sheseemedtobequitesatisfied，beforehand，thatMrDawsonwouldapproveofher，andshesatcalmlylookingoutofwindow，witheveryappearanceofenjoyingthecountryair。Somepeoplemighthavethoughtsuchconductsuggestiveofbrazenassurance。
IbegtosaythatImoreliberallysetitdowntoextraordinarystrengthofmind。
Insteadofthedoctorcominguptous，Iwassentfortoseethedoctor。
Ithoughtthischangeofaffairsratherodd，butMrsRubelledidnotappealtobeaffectedbyitinanyway。Ileftherstillcalmlylookingoutofthewindow，andstillsilentlyenjoyingthecountryair。
MrDawsonwaswaitingformebyhimselfinthebreakfast-room。
`Aboutthisnewnurse，MrsMichelson，’saidthedoctor。
`Yes，sir？’
`IfindthatshehasbeenbroughtherefromLondonbythewifeofthatfatoldforeigner，whoisalwaystryingtointerferewithme。MrsMichelson，thefatoldforeignerisaquack。’
Thiswasveryrude。Iwasnaturallyshockedatit。
`Areyouaware，sir，’Isaid，`thatyouaretalkingofanobleman？’
`Pooh！Heisn’tthefirstquackwithahandletohisname。They’reallCounts——hang’em！’
`HewouldnotbeafriendofSirPercivalGlyde’ssir，ifhewasnotamemberofthehighestaristocracy——exceptingtheEnglisharistocracy，ofcourse。’
`Verywell，MrsMichelson，callhimwhatyoulike，andletusgetbacktothenurse。Ihavebeenobjectingtoheralready。’
`Withouthavingseenher，sir？’
`Yes，withouthavingseenher。Shemaybethebestnurseinexistence，butsheisnotanurseofmyproviding。IhaveputthatobjectiontoSirPercival，asthemasterofthehouse。Hedoesn’tsupportme。HesaysanurseofmyprovidingwouldhavebeenastrangerfromLondonalso，andhethinksthewomanoughttohaveatrial，afterhiswife’saunthastakenthetroubletofetchherfromLondon。Thereissomejusticeinthat。andIcan’tdecentlysayNo。ButIhavemadeitaconditionthatsheistogoatonce，ifIfindreasontocomplainofher。ThisproposalbeingonewhichIhavesomerighttomake，asmedicalattendant，SirPercivalhasconsentedtoit。Now，MrsMichelson，IknowIcandependonyou。andI
wantyoutokeepasharpeyeonthenurseforthefirstdayortwo，andtoseethatshegivesMissHalcombenomedicinesbutmine。Thisforeignnoblemanofyoursisdyingtotryhisquackremedies(mesmerismincluded)
onmypatient，andanursewhoisbroughtherebyhiswifemaybealittletoowillingtohelphim。Youunderstand？Verywell，then，wemaygoupstairs。
Isthenursethere？I’llsayawordtoherbeforeshegoesintothesick-room。’
WefoundMissRubellestillenjoyingherselfatthewindow。WhenIintroducedhertoMrDawson，neitherthedoctor’sdoubtfullooksnorthedoctorssearchingquestionsappearedtoconfuseherintheleast。SheansweredhimquietlyinherbrokenEnglish，andthoughhetriedhardtopuzzleher，sheneverbetrayedtheleastignorance，sofar，aboutanypartofherduties。Thiswasdoubtlesstheresultofstrengthofmind，asIsaidbefore，andnotofbrazenassurance，byanymeans。
Weallwentintothebedroom。
MrsRubellelookedveryattentivelyatthepatient，curtseyedtoLadyGlyde，setoneortwolittlethingsrightintheroom，andsatdownquietlyinacornertowaituntilshewaswanted。Herladyshipseemedstartledandannoyedbytheappearanceofthestrangenurse。Noonesaidanything，forfearofrousingMissHalcombe，whowasstillslumbering，exceptthedoctor，whowhisperedaquestionaboutthenight。Isoftlyanswered，`Muchasusual，’andthenMrDawsonwentout。LadyGlydefollowedhim，IsupposetospeakaboutMrsRubelle。Formyownpart，Ihadmadeupmymindalreadythatthisquietforeignpersonwouldkeephersituation。Shehadallherwitsabouther，andshecertainlyunderstoodherbusiness。Sofar，Icouldhardlyhavedonemuchbetterbythebedsidemyself。
RememberingMrDawson’scautiontome，IsubjectedMrsRubelletoaseverescrutinyatcertainintervalsforthenextthreeorfourdays-I
overandoveragainenteredtheroomsoftlyandsuddenly，butIneverfoundheroutinanysuspiciousaction。LadyGlyde，whowatchedherasattentivelyasIdid，discoverednothingeither。Ineverdetectedasignofthemedicinebottlesbeingtamperedwith，IneversawMrsRubellesayawordtotheCount，ortheCounttoher。ShemanagedMissHalcombewithunquestionablecareanddiscretion-Thepoorladywaveredbackwardsandforwardsbetweenasortofsleepyexhaustion，whichwashalffaintnessandhalfslumbering，andattacksoffeverwhichbroughtwiththemmoreorlessofwanderinginhermind。MrsRubelleneverdisturbedherinthefirstcase，andneverstartledherinthesecond，byappearingtoosuddenlyatthebedsideinthecharacterofastranger。Honourtowhomhonourisdue(whetherforeignorEnglish)——andIgiveherprivilegeimpartiallytoMrsRubelle。Shewasremarkablyuncommunicativeaboutherself，andshewastooquietlyindependentofalladvicefromexperiencedpersonswhounderstoodthedutiesofasickroom——butwiththesedrawbacks，shewasagoodnurse，andshenevergaveeitherLadyGlydeorMrDawsontheshadowofareasonforcomplainingofher。
ThenextcircumstanceofimportancethatoccurredinthehousewasthetemporaryabsenceoftheCount，occasionedbybusinesswhichtookhimtoLondon。Hewentaway(Ithink)onthemorningofthefourthdayafterthearrivalofMrsRubelle，andatpartinghespoketoLadyGlydeveryseriously，inmypresence，onthesubjectofMissHalcombe。
