Ralph offered
her his arm with the exaggerated alertness of a man who was no
longer a lover.
Even if this had still been his condition, however, Ralph had
other things to think about. The great doctor spent the night at
Gardencourt and, returning to London on the morrow, after another
consultation with Mr. Touchett's own medical adviser, concurred in
Ralph's desire that he should see the patient again on the day
following. On the day following Sir Matthew Hope reappeared at
Gardencourt, and now took a less encouraging view of the old man,
who had grown worse in the twenty-four hours. His feebleness was
extreme, and to his son, who constantly sat by his bedside, it often
seemed that his end must be at hand. The local doctor, a very
sagacious man, in whom Ralph had secretly more confidence than in
his distinguished colleague, was constantly in attendance, and Sir
Matthew Hope came back several times. Mr. Touchett was much of the
time unconscious; he slept a great deal; he rarely spoke. Isabel had a
great desire to be useful to him and was allowed to watch with him
at hours when his other attendants (of whom Mrs. Touchett was not
the least regular) went to take rest.
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