He learned that she was better, and sleeping under the influence of an opiate. The doctor asked of him, as he just had inquired of his father, whether anything had occurred to particularly excite or agitate Mrs. Emory when her attack came on.
But, as we know, neither father nor son had taken notice of what she was doing or saying at the time, the scream from Lizzie’s lips, and the exclamation from Miss Butler, being the first warning that they had when the lady fainted.
“I will be here early in the morning,” said the doctor, as he arose to take his leave.
CHAPTER XXVI.
“IT IS AS I FEARED.”
When Hattie Butler went down to her breakfast next morning she studied the features of little Jessie Albemarle as closely as she could while the girl was flitting to and fro, carrying coffee to the boarders and attending to her duties. And once, when she was close to her, she spoke to Jessie, and got a fair look into her bright, brown, or hazel eyes. She was almost startled when she did so, for she saw, sure she saw, there a resemblance, a very marked and strong resemblance, to the kind, loving eyes which had greeted her the evening before at the house of Mr. Legare, and which had closed so suddenly in that death-like swoon when the name of “Jessie Albemarle” was spoken.
While she was thinking of this, and what possibilities might yet be in store for the poor, ill-treated bound girl, Miss Scrimp opened her batteries on our heroine.
“Miss Hattie,” she said, “I’ve been thinking of changing my room down to this floor. There’s the little alcove off the parlor, plenty large enough for a bed for me, and my room has such a good light from the east, you can almost feel day when it dawns, and it would save you such a long journey up stairs. I’ll only charge you a dollar a week more if you take it. What do you say about it?”
“Only this, Miss Scrimp, that I am very well contented where I am, and that I would much rather pay my extra dollar toward getting you the silk dress which Miss Kate spoke of yesterday, and which I am sure you deserve for the great improvements you have made in your table.”
“That’s the talk,” cried Kate, from her seat. “I’ll pay my dollar Saturday night.”
“And I—and I!” echoed along the table.