"It's my sister, poor thing. We've been ever so hard at work all day; and she just got up to cross the room for a pattern, and I suppose she went too fast. Her sight isn't good, and she fell over a stool. I was too far off to be any help, and I suppose she bumped her head against the fender or the coal-scuttle. She seems half stunned, and she doesn't get up, and her hand is hurt. I'm all in a shiver at the thought of touching her, and I've got nobody to send for the doctor, for our girl is out, and I don't know what to do."
"A helpless sort of person," Mildred said to herself. Aloud she only remarked, "You had better take me to your sister."
Miss Sophy backed before her to the front sitting-room, talking volubly as she went. The room was strewn from end to end with unmade and half-made dress materials. Her sister half lay and half sat upon the rug, supporting one hand with the other and moaning distressfully, while blood ran fast from a cut across her forehead.
"You are hurt, poor thing," Mildred said, bending over her.
"It is my hand that is worst, and the pain's most dreadful," groaned Miss Coxen.
"Your right arm too. Yes, you must have come down with all your weight on this hand. I dare say it has saved you from some worse hurt. The cut on your face doesn't seem to be very deep. I see you must have fallen against the edge of that old coal-scuttle; it's as sharp as a knife."
"It might have killed me outright. I wonder it didn't. And Sophy never doing anything but stand and stare."
"Well, yes, it might; but you see it hasn't. Now, we must help you into the arm-chair, and then will see to your forehead and hand. Perhaps the pain will be better for a little bathing."
To Miss Sophy she said, "You must give an arm too, please. I cannot lift your sister up alone."
Miss Sophy obeyed, but in so limp and clumsy a style, that Mildred might almost as well have acted without her. When at the first outcry of complaint, Miss Sophy started back, leaving her sister a dead weight upon the other, Mildred, weakened by illness, nearly came down with her burden.