Detective and mystery stories; English fiction -- 19th century
My name is Mary Jackson. I live in Goswell Street, City Road. I am a
monthly and sick-nurse. In June, 1856, I was engaged to nurse Madame
R**. I was recommended to the Baron by Dr. Marsden, who lodged in the
same house. I have often nursed for him. Madame R** was not very ill.
I don't think she was ill enough to require a nurse. Of course she
was the better for one--everybody always is--but she could have done
without one. I came by the Baron's wish. He was anxious like. The poor
gentleman was very fond of his wife. I never saw such a good husband.
I am sure no other husband would have done what he did, and she so
cold to him. I don't think she cared about him at all. She hardly ever
spoke to him unless it was when he spoke first. She never spoke much.
She always seemed frightened; especially when the Baron was there. She
certainly seemed to be afraid of him, but I can't tell why. He was
always kind to her. He was the nicest and most civil-spoken gentleman
I ever knew. It was not that he was not particular. Quite the reverse.
I wish all husbands were half so particular, and then nurses wouldn't
so often get into trouble. Everything used to be done like clockwork.
Every morning he used to give me a paper what was to be given in the
day. I mean medicine and food. A list of everything, with the time it
was to be taken. Everything used to be ready, and I used to give it
regular. No one else ever used to give anything. _The Baron never gave
anything himself_. Never at all. I am quite sure of that. He used to
say that it was nurse's business, and so it is. He often said he had
seen so much sickness he had learned never to interfere with the nurse,
and I only wish all other gentlemen would do the same. He used to be
very particular about the physic. We always have the bottles for our
perquisite. We get a shilling a dozen for them all round if they are
clean. The Baron objected to this. He allowed me a shilling a dozen
instead. The bottles were all put away in a cupboard. They never used
to be quite emptied. The Baron always made a point of having fresh in
before the old was quite finished. He said he always liked to have
them to refer to in case of accident or mistake. He was a very careful
gentleman. I nursed Madame R** every day until her recovery. I am quite
certain that, during the hours I was there, nothing was ever given to
her but what passed through my hands.
3.--_Statement of Mrs. Ellis._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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