“I must look after my meat or it’ll burn,” and she gave the baby to Miss Florence.
“I’ll sit in the rocking chair and you put her in my lap, I think she’s hurt more than Violet. You see, I ran upstairs when Miss Hetty’s bell rang, and she fell on my shoulder, and I never thought––”
“I gave it to him good, and his father’ll finish him tonight. Oh, dear! Well, there comes their mother.”
There was a hubhub with both babies crying again. Mrs. Borden laid aside her hat and coat and took up Violet, sent Marilla for a pitcher of milk and both babies were comforted with a drink.
“Sit on the floor and hold them. They’re so heavy. Poor sweet babies.”
The sobs ceased after a while. Violet fell asleep, Pansy was bathed again and grew quieter. The doctor came and said it was a bad fainting spell but that Mrs. Vanderveers heart was weak from age.
Marilla fixed Pansy’s supper, fed her and 43 undressed her, and her mother laid her in the crib. Then she said—
“You may go and help Bridget a little with the dinner.”
Marilla arranged the table and the master of the house came in. Jack sneaked in, also. Mrs. Henderson staid, so no explanations were made. Jack was very quiet and behaved beautifully, but he wanted to go to bed at once. Violet woke and had her supper and quiet was restored. Then a man came in to consult Mr. Borden about some business.
“It was awful that Jack should go at the babies so,” said Mrs. Borden to her sister.