It so happened that during her stay with the Fergusons one of the little
boys had broken his collar-bone; a slight accident in itself, had not
the bone pierced the lung, causing a long and severe illness. Quick as
lightning Christian recollected all that had not been done, and all that
the doctor said they ought to have done, in the case of little Jamie. It
was useless speaking out what she feared; indeed, one look at Dr. Grey's
terrified face showed her it was impossible; so she merely laid Arthur
down very gently from her arms, persuaded him to let her place him on
his back along the sofa, and wiped the few drops from his mouth.
"Do not be frightened, papa"--and she made an effort at a smile--"as I
said, I think I know what is amiss with him."
"I am used to children. The doctor will be here soon. Suppose you were
to go down stairs and see if he is coming,"
Dr. Grey obeyed mechanically. When he came back he found Letitia and the
nurse sent away. Christian hardly knew how she managed it, but she did
do it, for it was necessary; Arthur must be kept quiet. She was now
sitting in the silent, half-dark room, with the boy lying quite still
and patient now, his little hot hand clinging fast to hers.
"How content he seems with you! He does not want Phillis, I think."
"No! no! no!" cried Arthur, violently. "Phillis beats me; she always
does, every day of my life. I hate her! If I die, Phillis ought to be
hanged, for it was she that killed me."
"Hush! hush! no speaking," said Christian; and her soft compelling hand
pressed the boy down again. She was now almost certain that the lung was
injured, and her eyes were full of foreboding compassion as they rested
on the poor little fellow, so unused to suffering.
"Is this all true about Phillis?" whispered Dr. Grey.
"I fear it is; but we can not talk of that just now. Ah! here is the
doctor."
It was an inexpressible relief to Christian when, after his first glance
at the patient, Dr. Anstruther said, in his quick, firm, cheery way,
"Now, Dr. Grey, we'll soon put your little man right. But we only want
women here. The best thing you can do is to walk out of the room. This
young lady?"
"Mrs. Grey--Dr. Anstruther."
"I see--I beg your pardon, madam;" and his keen eyes took in at a glance
the graceful figure, the brilliant evening dress. "I was to have met
you today at dinner at the vice chancellor's, but this prevented you, I
suppose?"
"Yes," said Christian; and then, in a few whispered words, told about
the accident, and her suspicions of what it was. The freemasonry of
trust which springs up instantaneously between any honest doctor and
sensible nurse made them friends in five minutes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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