"Sent to Boston for a nurse for that creature? She's a great deal better dead! She only leads men"—
"If you will excuse me, Mrs. Webbe," interrupted I, pushing the door still nearer to closing, "I ought to go back to my patient. It isn't my business to decide who had better be dead."
She started forward suddenly, taking me unawares, and before I understood what she intended, she had thrust herself through the door into the house.
"If it isn't your business," she demanded sharply, "what are you here for? What right have you to interfere? If Providence is willing to take the creature out of the way, what are you trying to keep her alive for?"
I put up my hand and stopped her.
"Will you be quiet?" I said. "I cannot have her disturbed."
"You cannot!" she repeated, raising her voice. "Who gave you a right to order me round, Ruth Privet? Is this your house?"
I knew that her shrill voice would easily penetrate to Julia's bedroom, and indeed there was only a thin door between the sick girl and the kitchen where we were. I took Mrs. Webbe by the wrist as strongly as I could, and before she could collect her wits, I led her out of the house, and down to the gate.
"What are you doing?" she demanded. "How dare you drag me about?"