Maigan soon scratched at the door again, and through the frosted glass Madge saw Mrs. Papineau approaching. She was looking rather tired and dismal. It was evident, from her panting, that she had hurried, but now she was coming very slowly, as if afraid to hear bad news. But when she finally came in and looked at Hugo, her fat face took on some of its wonted cheerfulness.
“Heem no look so bad now,” she asserted. “Who know? Mebbe get all right again, eh? What Docteur Starr heem say before he go?”
Madge was compelled to give her a long account of how the night had passed and to describe every move and relate every word of the doctor.
“Dat’s good,” approved Mrs. Papineau. “Now you go to our ’ouse an’ get to bed an’ ’ave sleep. If de children make noise tell ’em I slap ’em plenty ven I get back, sure. You 265 need bad for to sleep––h’eyes look tired an’ red.”
She explained that Papineau had been obliged to go off after some traps that were not very far away, and would return by midday. She insisted upon the need of Madge to impress the children with the virtues of silence. They had already been informed that if they did not keep still when the lady returned they would be given to the loup-garou and other mythical and traditional terrors of habitant childhood.
“Me stay ’ere all day. Den you come back an’ stay de night, if you lak’. You tell me vat I do.”
The good lady found her endeavors useless, however. Hadn’t the doctor said that incessant care might perhaps, with luck, bring about a recovery? And Hugo had been better––he had spoken––he might speak again and want something she might get him. Moreover, the dressing was to be changed very soon and the drainage tubes were to be flushed out once in so often with the solution the doctor had left. To have gone away then would have been desertion; she never entertained the thought for an instant.
Hence she attended to these things, in the presence of Mrs. Papineau, who looked quite 266 awed at the proceedings. Generally the man seemed quite unconscious of what she did, and there was little complaint from him; just a few moans and perhaps a slight drawing away when she hurt him slightly in spite of her gentle handling. Finally Madge consented to rest a little, providing she was not forced to leave the shack. In the absence of other accommodation Mrs. Papineau had spread a heavy blanket on the floor, with odds and ends of spare clothing. It was only after the good woman had solemnly promised to awaken her in case there was the slightest need that the girl at last lay down, feeling dead tired but without the slightest desire to sleep, as she thought. But it did not take a very long time before her eyes closed and she was deep in slumber that was heavy and dreamless. Maigan came and curled up beside her. He thoroughly approved of her.
It was only after midday that she awoke, startled, as if conscious of having been remiss in her duty, and raised herself quickly to a sitting posture.
“Is––is everything all right?” she asked, anxiously.