Dr. Baker came down at the same moment. “Can’t you shut those children up in some dungeon? They’ve voices like a foghorn. Ah, Miss Armitage. How is this patient?”
“Oh, I’m—better,” raising up suddenly then falling back in a half faint.
“Don’t stir, keep as still as you can. You’ve no strength to throw away on make believes. See here, babies,” and he disgorged a paper of peppermints that at once soothed broken hearts. 195
“When will Mrs. Borden return?”
“Well, she’ll be home to dinner,” and Bridget grinned. “Things were all well enough when she went out. You see there’s some weddin’ fixings goin’ on, and sure Miss Borden deserves a good husband when she’s waited five years. How’s the old lady?”
“It’s pretty bad with her, though there’s no immediate signs of her dying. But it’s paralysis. Her limbs are cold and useless and I think it is creeping up her left side. She’ll be another baby added to the family, unless she will go to a hospital which would be far better for her. She must have a steady nurse. I’ve been rather afraid of this.”
“I must go and see to my dinner. Miss Armitage won’t you stay until the ladies come home?”
Miss Armitage signified her willingness and laid aside her hat.
The babies were fairly gorging themselves.
“I’ll be in again presently. I’ll leave this for the child, to be given every half hour and she is to lie perfectly still.”