In the meantime, my father's condition had grown neither better nor worse. As I

understood, he was asleep for much of the time, and indeed, I found him so on

the few occasions I had a spare moment to ascend to that little attic room. I

did not then have a chance actually to converse with him until that second

evening after the return of his illness.

 

On that occasion, too, my father was sleeping when I entered. But the

chambermaid Miss Kenton had left in attendance stood up upon seeing me and began

to shake my father's shoulder.

 

"Foolish girl!" I exclaimed. "What do you think you are doing?"

 

"Mr Stevens said to wake him if you returned, sir."

 

"Let him sleep. It's exhaustion that's made him ill."

 

"He said I had to, sir," the girl said, and again shook my father's shoulder.

 

My father opened his eyes, turned his head a little on the pillow, and looked at

me.

 

"I hope Father is feeling better now," I said. He went on gazing at me for a

moment, then asked: "Everything in hand downstairs?'

 

"The situation is rather volatile. It is just after six o'clock, so Father can