She was advised by recollection to let her father rest.
‘No, dear girl, not hurt, no scratch,—only my gown torn,’ she said to Madge; and Madge heaved and whimpered, and stooped to pin the frayed strips. ‘Quite safe; you see it is easy for women to escape, Mr. Edwards.’
Carinthia’s voice hummed over the girl’s head
‘Father made me practise it, in case. He forethought. Madge, you heard of this dog. I told you how to act. I was not feverish. Our babe will not feel it.’
She bade Madge open her hands. ‘A scratch would kill. Never mind the tearings; I will hold my dress. Oh! there is that one child bitten. Mr. Edwards, mount a man for the doctor. I will go in to the child. He was bitten. Lose not one minute, Mr. Edwards. I see you go.’
He bowed and hastened.
The child’s mother was red eyes at her door for ease of her heart to the lady. Carinthia stepped into the room, where the little creature was fetching sobs after the spout of screams.
‘God in heaven! she can’t be going to suck the bite?’ Fleetwood cried to Madge, whose answer was disquieting ‘If it’s to save life, my mistress won’t stop at anything.’
His heart sprang with a lighted comprehension of Gower Woodseer’s meaning. This girl’s fervour opened portals to new views of her mistress, or opened eyes.