She received the news very calmly, saying that she had always expected to die of consumption some time or other.
"Do you think there is any use in taking her away? Would a change of air do anything for her?" asked Asahel.
"I think not," replied Dr. Campbell; "the disease is too far advanced. She may rally and be better for a time, but it is not probable."
Now came the question as to what was to be done. Gerty's own mother was dead, and she was not on good terms with her stepmother or her younger sisters. She declared positively that she would have none of her own family.
"Get a nurse to take care of me, and let Marion stay and keep house if she will," said Gerty. "I am used to her now and she knows my ways. Martha is a goose, and Anne and I are too much alike to agree. We should quarrel all the time, just as we used to when I was home."
"But, Gerty, my dear, I am afraid Marion is hardly strong enough," said Mrs. Van Alstine, anxious to please Gerty, but afraid for her own child.
"She shall have no work to do," said Gerty, eagerly. "The girls can do the work, and I will have a nurse to take care of me. But I like Marion; she has been very, very good." The eagerness with which she spoke set her to coughing violently and brought on another bleeding, which lasted a long time and left her evidently very much worse than before.
"Do you think you can stay, Marie?" asked her mother. "I don't like to cross the poor child in what she has set her heart on."
"Of course I can," answered Marion, cheerfully; "I do think I can get on with her better than any one else."
"Yes, you really seem to have some influence. But you must be very careful."