Rose complied. As the two ladies came from their rooms attired for the
ride, Rose said:
"Grace, come and join us; we are going to see Naples a little."
But Grace excused herself for that day, promising to go next morning.
She saw them driven away, and then took up her watch for the expected
visitors.
She did not wait long. Four sailors were carrying the sick man; while
Jack, the ship's surgeon, and Sedgwick were walking near. The manager met
them and directed the way to the room set aside for Jordan. Grace waited
in the upper hall for the procession. Sedgwick sprang to her, but she put
a finger on her lips, caught his hand, then circled his neck with her
arms, swiftly kissed him, and then whispered: "O darling, we must see now
to our poor dear sick friend," and tore herself away from him.
Jordan was put in bed still sleeping. Then Sedgwick, the surgeon and
sailors came out. Sedgwick feed the sailors generously, though they did
not want to accept anything. He then presented Surgeon Craig to his wife.
Grace greeted him and said: "Doctor, when the sick man awakens, will
there be any danger to him if some one very dear to him shall be sitting
by his couch?"
"None at all," was the answer. "That is the medicine that he needs. If we
could find the right friend, I believe it would cure him; if we cannot, I
fear the result, for it is a sorrow more than the fever, I believe, that
is killing him."
Half an hour later the ladies returned. Grace had Sedgwick take Browning
from the sick room; then explained to Mrs. Hazleton that Mr. Jordan was
in the house very ill and sleeping, but that if she were strong enough
she ought to be at his bedside when he awoke; asked her if she could bear
the ordeal, and if she thought she could, whether she would prefer to be
alone or to have her with her.
"I am strong enough," was the answer, "and I would rather no one would be
near."
Then Grace led her to the door and said: "Margaret, be brave, and keep in
thought that you are going to restore your friend to health; and see,
this room is next to mine. I shall be waiting there; if you need me, tap
softly upon the partition door." Then she opened noiselessly the door,
kissed her friend, waited until she passed into the room, closed the
door, and then ran to her husband, climbed upon his knees, embraced and
kissed him, and cried with joy.
It was two hours before any sign came from the adjoining room. Then the
door was softly opened; Mrs. Hazleton came in without speaking, grasped
Sedgwick's hand, pointed to the room where Jordan lay, and said in a
whisper: "He wants you." And as Sedgwick passed from the apartment, the
over-wrought woman fell upon her knees, buried her face in the lap of
Grace, and said: "Dear friend, help me to thank God."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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