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〃Very。〃
〃And you told me yourself carelessness was the cause so many
children die。〃
〃That is true。〃
She gave him a curious and rather searching look； then； leaning
over her boy； said； 〃Mammy's not afraid。 Beautiful Pet was not
born to die directly。 He will never leave his mam…ma。 No； uncle；
he never can。 For my life is bound in his and his dear father's。
It is a triple cord： one go； go all。〃
She said this with a quiet resolution that chilled Uncle Philip。
At this moment the nurse； who had been bending so pertinaciously
over some work that her eyes were invisible； looked quickly up；
cast a furtive glance at Mrs。 Staines； and finding she was employed
for the moment； made an agitated signal to Dr。 Philip。 All she did
was to clench her two hands and lift them half way to her face； and
then cast a frightened look towards the door； but Philip's senses
were so sharpened by constant alarm and watching； that he saw at
once something serious was the matter。 But as he had asked himself
what he should do in case of some sudden alarm； he merely gave a
nod of intelligence to the nurse； scarcely perceptible； then rose
quietly from his seat； and went to the window。 〃Snow coming； I
think；〃 said he。 〃For all that we shall have the March summer in
ten days。 You mark my words。〃 He then went leisurely out of the
room； at the door he turned； and； with all the cunning he was
master of； said； 〃Oh； by the by； come to my room； nurse； when you
are at leisure。〃
〃Yes； doctor；〃 said the nurse； but never moved。 She was too bent
on hiding the agitation she really felt。
〃Had you not better go to him； nurse？〃
〃Perhaps I had； madam。〃
She rose with feigned indifference； and left the room。 She walked
leisurely down the passage； then； casting a hasty glance behind
her； for fear Mrs。 Staines should be watching her； hurried into the
doctor's room。 They met at once in the middle of the room； and
Mrs。 Briscoe burst out； 〃Sir； it is known all over the house！〃
〃Heaven forbid！ What is known？〃
〃What you would give the world to keep from her。 Why； sir； the
moment you cautioned me； of course I saw there was trouble。 But
little I thoughtsir； not a servant in the kitchen or the stable
but knows that her husbandpoor thing！ poor thing！Ah！ there goes
the housemaidto have a look at her。〃
〃Stop her！〃
Mrs。 Briscoe had not waited for this； she rushed after the woman；
and told her Mrs。 Staines was sleeping； and the room must not be
entered on any account。
〃Oh； very well；〃 said the maid； rather sullenly。
Mrs。 Briscoe saw her return to the kitchen； and came back to Dr。
Staines； he was pacing the room in torments of anxiety。
〃Doctor；〃 said she； 〃it is the old story： 'Servants' friends； the
master's enemies。' An old servant came here to gossip with her
friend the cook （she never could abide her while they were
together； by all accounts）； and told her the whole story of his
being drowned at sea。〃
Dr。 Philip groaned； 〃Cursed chatterbox！〃 said he。 〃What is to be
done？ Must we break it to her now？ Oh； if I could only buy a few
days more！ The heart to be crushed while the body is weak！ It is
too cruel。 Advise me； Mrs。 Briscoe。 You are an experienced woman；
and I think you are a kind…hearted woman。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 said Mrs。 Briscoe； 〃I had the name of it； when I was
youngerbefore Briscoe failed； and I took to nursing； which it
hardens； sir； by use； and along of the patients themselves； for
sick folk are lumps of selfishness； we see more of them than you
do； sir。 But this I WILL say； 'tisn't selfishness that lies now in
that room； waiting for the blow that will bring her to death's
door； I'm sore afraid； but a sweet； gentle； thoughtful creature； as
ever supped sorrow； for I don't know how 'tis； doctor； nor why
'tis； but an angel like that has always to sup sorrow。〃
〃But you do not advise me；〃 said the doctor； in agitation； 〃and
something must be done。〃
〃Advise you； sir； it is not for me to do that。 I am sure I'm at my
wits' ends； poor thing！ Well； sir； I don't see what you can do；
but try and break it to her。 Better so； than let it come to her
like a clap of thunder。 But I think； sir； I'd have a wet…nurse
ready； before I said much： for she is very quickand ten to one
but the first word of such a thing turns her blood to gall。 Sir； I
once knew a poor womanshe was a carpenter's wifea…nursing her
child in the afternoonand in runs a foolish woman； and tells her
he was killed dead； off a scaffold。 'Twas the man's sister told
her。 Well； sir； she was knocked stupid like； and she sat staring；
and nursing of her child； before she could take it in rightly。 The
child was dead before supper…time； and the woman was not long
after。 The whole family was swept away； sir； in a few hours； and I
mind the table was not cleared he had dined on； when they came to
lay them out。 Well…a…day； nurses see sorrow！〃
〃We all see sorrow that live long； Mrs。 Briscoe。 I am heart…broken
myself； I am desperate。 You are a good soul； and I'll tell you。
When my nephew married this poor girl； I was very angry with him；
and I soon found she was not fit to be a struggling man's wife； and
then I was very angry with her。 She had spoiled a first…rate
physician； I thought。 But； since I knew her better； it is all
changed。 She is so lovable。 How I shall ever tell her this
terrible thing； God knows。 All I know is； that I will not throw a
chance away。 Her body SHALL be stronger； before I break her heart。
Cursed idiots； that could not save a single man； with their boats；
in a calm sea！ Lord forgive me for blaming people； when I was not
there to see。 I say I will give her every chance。 She shall not
know it till she is stronger： no； not if I live at her door； and
sleep there； and all。 Good God！ inspire me with something。 There
is always something to be done； if one could but see it。〃
Mrs。 Briscoe sighed and said； 〃Sir； I think anything is better than
for her to hear it from a servantand they are sure to blurt it
out。 Young women are such fools。〃
〃No； no； I see what it is；〃 said Dr。 Philip。 〃I have gone all
wrong from the first。 I have been acting like a woman； when I
should have acted like a man。 Why； I only trusted YOU by halves。
There was a fool for you。 Never trust people by halves。〃
〃That is true； sir。〃
〃Well； then； now I shall go at it like a man。 I have a vile
opinion of servants； but no matter。 I'll try them： they are human；
I suppose。 I'll hit them between the eyes like a man。 Go to the
kitchen； Mrs。 Briscoe； and tell them I wish to speak to all the
servants； indoors or out。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
She stopped at the door； and said； 〃I had better get back to her；
as soon as I have told them。〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃And what shall I tell her； sir？ Her first word will be to ask me
what you wanted me for。 I saw that in her eye。 She was curious：
that is why she sent me after you so quick。〃
Dr。 Philip groaned。 He felt he was walking among pitfalls。 He
rapidly flavored some distilled water with orange…flower； then
tinted it a beautiful pink； and bottled it。 〃There；〃 said he； 〃I
was mixing a new medicine。 Tablespoon； four times a day： had to
filter it。 Any lie you like。〃
Mrs。 Briscoe went to the kitchen； and gave her message： then went
to Mrs。 Staines with the mixture。
Dr。 Philip went down to the kitchen； and spoke to the servants very
solemnly。 He said； 〃My good friends； I am come to ask your help in
a matter of life and death。 There is a poor young woman up…stairs；
she is a widow； and does not know it； and must not know it yet。 If
the blow fell now； I think it would kill her： indeed； if she hears
it all of a sudden； at any time； that might destroy her。 We are in
so sore a strait that a feather may turn the scale。 So we must try
all we can to gain a little time； and then trust to God's mercy
after all。 Well； now； what do you say？ Will you help me keep it
from her； till the tenth of March； say？ and then I will break it to
her by degrees。 Forget she is your mistress。 Master and servant；
that is all very well at a proper time； but this is the time to
remember nothing but that we are all one flesh and blood。 We lie
down together in the churchyard； and we hope to rise together where
there will be no master and servant。 Think of the poor unfortunate
creature as your own flesh and blood； and tell me； will you help me
try and save her； under this terrible blow？〃
〃Ay； doctor； that we will；〃 said the footman。 〃Only you give us
our orders； and you will see。〃
〃I have no right to give you orders； but I entreat you not to show
her by word or look； that calamity is upon her。 Alas！ it is only a
reprieve you can give her and to me。 The bitter hour MUST come
when I must tell her she is a widow； and her boy an orphan。 When
that day comes； I will ask you all to pray for me that I may find
words。 But now I ask you to give me that ten days' reprieve。 Let
the poor creature recover a little strength； before the thunderbolt
of affliction falls on her head。 Will you promise me？〃
They promised heartily； and more than one of the women began to
cry。
〃A general assent will not satisfy me；〃 said Dr。 P