I had better tell
you that as to yourself the camp is divided into two parties. On
one side are the Major, Wilson, and myself, and all the ladies,
who take, I need not say, a common sense view of the matter, and
recognize that you have done all a man could do to overcome your
constitutional nervousness, and that there is no discredit whatever
attached to you personally. The rest of the men, I am sorry to say,
at present take another view of the case, and are disposed to show
you the cold shoulder."
"That, of course," Bathurst said quietly; "as to the ladies' view
of it, I know that it is only the result of your good offices,
Doctor."
"Then you will come," the Doctor said, pleased that Bathurst seemed
less depressed than he had expected.
"Certainly I will come, Doctor," Bathurst said, rising; "the worst
is over now--everyone knows that I am a coward--that is what
I have dreaded. There is nothing else for me to be afraid of, and
it is of no use hiding myself."
"We look quite at home here, Mr. Bathurst, don't we?" Mrs. Doolan
said cheerfully, as he passed her; "and I think we all feel a great
deal more comfortable than we did when you gave us your warning
last night; the anticipation is always worse than the reality."
"Not always, I think, Mrs. Doolan," he said quietly; "but you have
certainly made yourselves wonderfully at home, though your sewing
is of a more practical kind than that upon which you are ordinarily
engaged.
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