about noon
While Quentin cheerfully declared that he would be himself before night , Dickey was in a doleful state of mind and ventured the opinion that he was `` in for a rough spell of sickness . '' What distresed the Saxondales most was the dismal certainty that a doctor could not be called to the castle . If Quentin were to become seriously ill , the situation would develop into something extremely embarrassing . He insisted on coming downstairs about noon , and laughed at the remonstrances of Lord Bob and Dickey , who urged him to remain in bed for a day or two , at least . His cough was a cruel one , and his eyes were bright with the fever that raced through his system . The medicine chest offered its quinine and its plasters for his benefit , and there was in the air the tense anxiety that is felt when a child is ill and the outcome is in doubt . The friends of this strong , stubborn and all-important sick man could not conceal the fact that they were nervous and that they dreaded the probability of disaster in the shape of serious illness .