CHAPTER IX.
AN INVALID.
“TROUBLES never come singly,” said poor Mrs. Kayll as she took her youngest child from Madge’s arms, and looked uneasily at its flushed face. “If he keeps like this, we must send for the doctor. I can’t understand it at all.”
The time was about half-past six in the morning, and Madge had been holding the child while her mother dressed. Both the mother and daughter had had their rest broken by the baby’s fretfulness, as he woke up and cried at intervals the whole night through, and first one, then the other, had risen to walk about with him, trying to soothe him to sleep.
It was with a sinking heart that Madge lighted the fire and set the kettle on to boil before breakfast. Was everything going wrong all at once? But she put on as cheerful an expression as she could, and nobody expected her to be merry, as it was not in her nature.
Everything felt uncomfortable this morning. The girls were to stay away from school, as their mother did not want to spare the money for them, and with Jem there as well the house seemed too full. Besides, both girls were so anxious to be of use that Madge, in hurrying to and fro, tumbled over them in all directions. They dusted the rooms, they made the beds, they came constantly to Madge with the question, “What shall we do next?” till she was nearly distracted. Yet she racked her brains every time for something for them to do, knowing that they would be still more trouble if they were idle. One idle person was bad enough!
“Jem,” said she, as she washed up the breakfast things, “aren’t you going to see after some work?”
Jem, who was sitting on the table swinging his legs to and fro, and looking very dismal, nodded assent.
“Because, you know, if you could earn ever so little, it would be a help; I suppose Mr. Graves would give you a character.”
“Yes, Madgie,” said the boy; “I’m going soon, but I must wait until baby’s better. I can’t go away while he’s so ill.”
“But you won’t do him any good by staying at home.”