‘We do trust her with you; and Liz, we know, will make the most devoted nurse,’ said Mr Courtney, smiling; but as he caught sight of Lizzie’s face, the smile faded. ‘Holloa! what is this? Are you going to have the fever too? You are as white as a sheet.’
‘It is the heat,’ murmured Liz, in a low voice, as she turned away; ‘and I have had a great deal of nursing lately into the bargain, Mr Courtney. Father and I have the heartache all day long, to see the ravages made by the fever amongst the coolies.’
‘Yes, it is sad enough,’ said the planter, ‘even for those who have not to count the loss as I have, by pounds, shillings, and pence. Do what we will to improve the condition of these people, their natural love of dirt and over feeding makes them fall an easy prey to any disease. We are quite sensible of what you and your father have done for us, Lizzie. It is through your means alone, that we have not lost many more. You must not be disheartened on that account.’
‘The distress seems universal,’ continued Liz; ‘the same floods that rotted the vegetation, and caused this malarious fever, have destroyed the rice-fields, and spread a famine amongst the negro population. The cases of starvation that reach us every day are heartrending, because it is so impossible to relieve them all. Have there been any more riots in the town, Mr Courtney?’
‘No, Liz. I have heard of none since the military were called out to quell them. But we must keep you up no longer. It is already morning. Come, my dear Nita, let us leave Dr Fellows and his daughter to get some rest for themselves.’
But Mrs Courtney was still unwilling to assent entirely to the Doctor’s wishes. She had no suspicion of the truth, but she felt intuitively that something had been kept back from them, and she was curious to find out what it was.
‘Let Jessica stay, at all events,’ she said; ‘she has been Quita’s nurse since she was a baby, and has attended her through all her illnesses. She will break her heart if you do not let her stay; and she can watch Maraquita when Lizzie is absent or engaged.’
‘That sounds reasonable,’ acquiesced Mr Courtney; ‘and perhaps Jessica had better remain at the bungalow.’
But Dr Fellows was firm in resisting the proposal.
‘Jessica can remain here if you desire it,’ he answered, ‘but she does not enter Quita’s room. I am not even sure that Lizzie will do so. You have confided your daughter to my care, Mr Courtney, and you will not find me unworthy of the trust. I shall be both nurse and doctor to Maraquita, until I can bring her to the White House again.’