Queenie's whim, Volume 2 (of 3) : $b A novelCarey, Rosa Nouchette
General
Queenie's whim, Volume 2 (of 3) : $b A novel
Carey, Rosa Nouchette
English fiction -- 19th century
"That is what she keeps saying over and over again," he continued,
still more anxiously. "She was quite well when we left home this
morning; she and her little maid were chasing each other along the
lanes, pelting each other with poppies. I thought she was only tired
and wanted to be carried; I can't understand this sickness and
drowsiness all at once. Do you think, Miss Marriott, that it could
possibly be a sunstroke?"
"I don't know; her eyes certainly look very odd," returned Queenie in
great perplexity.
"Oh, father! Nan is so very tired," moaned the little creature
again, creeping closer to his broad breast. "Ellen did say it was
naughty to eat the pretty currants; but Nan is good now, only so
sick."
"Have you any pain, my darling?" he asked, bending over her.
"No; no pain, only Nan so tired," she repeated, in the most pathetic
voice. Mr. Chester looked appealingly at Queenie.
"I am afraid she is very ill," she returned reluctantly, for there
was a strange look about the child that alarmed her. "Emmie dear,
tell Patience to go and fetch Dr. Stewart at once, and you run across
for Langley."
"Aye, we must have Langley," he repeated helplessly, looking down at
his pet. Nan had left off her moaning and seemed sinking into
drowsiness.
"Will she let me undress her and lay her in Emmie's bed? she will be
more comfortable than in your arms;" but, as Nan stirred uneasily and
murmured "Father; Nan cannot leave father," Mr. Chester was obliged
to carry her up himself. But even when he placed her on the cool
pillow she still held his hand tightly.
"Father will not leave his pet; don't be afraid, my darling."
When Langley arrived she found him still hanging over the child. Nan
seemed sleeping; her dark eyelashes swept her cheek; one small hand
was folded in her father's.
"This sleep will do her good. It must have been the sun that made
her feel sick," he said, looking up at Langley with a relieved
expression. Langley put back the long silky hair from the child's
forehead, but did not answer. Some chill presentiment for which she
could not account had seized her at the moment of Emmie's summons;
and then, why did not Nan move when she kissed her?
"I do not think this looks quite like sleep, like natural sleep, I
mean. I think we ought to try to rouse her, at least till Dr.
Stewart comes. Speak to her, Harry; she has never slept so soundly
before."
"Nan, Nan, my little one, father wants you," but, for the first time
in her infant life, Nan was deaf to her father's voice.
"What can we do? what are we to do? Dr. Stewart will not be home for
another hour," exclaimed Queenie, now really terrified. No suspicion
of the truth had entered into any of their minds. Only when it was
too late did the child's speech about the pretty currants recur to
her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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