Jem felt the truth of what his sister was saying. At last, he resolved to leave the matter for the doctor to decide, as he had attended his mother, and now knew exactly how much danger there was about Mary. He proposed to Bessy that they should go and relieve the kind neighbour who had charge of Mary. “But you won’t send for mother,” pleaded Bessy; “if it’s the best thing for Mary, I’ll wash up her things to-night, all ready for her to go into the infirmary. I won’t think of myself, Jem.” “Well! I must speak to the doctor,” said Jem. “I must not try and fix any way just because we wish it, but because it is right.” All night long, Bessy washed and ironed, and yet was always ready to attend to Mary when Jem called her. She took Jenny’s scalded hand in charge as well, and bathed it with the lotion the doctor sent; and all was done so meekly and patiently that even Tom was struck with it, and admired the change. The doctor came very early. He had prepared everything for Mary’s admission into the infirmary. And Jem consulted him about sending for his mother home. Bessy sat trembling, awaiting his answer. “I am very unwilling to sanction any concealment. And yet, as you say, your mother is in a very delicate state. It might do her serious harm if she had any shock. Well! suppose for this once, I take it on myself. If Mary goes on as I hope, why—well! well! we’ll see. Mind that your mother is told all when she comes home. And if our poor Mary grows worse—but I’m not afraid of that, with infirmary care and nursing—but if she does, I’ll write to your mother myself, and arrange with a kind friend I have at Southport all about sending her home. And now,” said he, turning suddenly to Bessy, “tell me what you were doing from home when this happened. Did not your mother leave you in charge of all at home?” “Yes, sir!” said Bessy, trembling. “But, sir, I thought I could earn money to make mother a present!” “Thought! fiddle-de-dee. I’ll tell you what; never you neglect the work clearly laid out for you by either God or man, to go making work for yourself, according to your own fancies. God knows what you are most fit for. Do that. And then wait; if you don’t see your next duty clearly. You will not long be idle in this world, if you are ready for a summons. Now let me see that you send Mary all clean and tidy to the infirmary.” Jem was holding Bessy’s hand. “She has washed everything and made it fit for a queen. Our Bessy worked all night long, and was content to let me be with Mary (where she wished sore to be), because I could lift her better, being the stronger.” “That’s right. Even when you want to be of service to others, don’t think how to please yourself.”