“You can do no good, I am sure.”
“Perhaps not, but still I will go in; if you can wait for me just a moment, I will relieve you of that bundle.”
“There is really nothing to be done, Mary, and Mrs. O’Flaherty is just falling asleep.”
Mary made no comment, but went directly in, taking care, however, to move more gently than usual. Mary was not a quiet person ordinarily, being the last one that an invalid would care to have in a sick room. She wondered angrily why Constance had tried to prevent her from entering. If she were as rich as Constance Van Gerder, she would do something for poor Mrs. O’Flaherty. She was too poor to do anything herself, but at least she could show a little sympathy! Full of indignation against Constance, Mary was pushing into the tiny house, when her way was suddenly barred.
Looking up, she recognized Dr. Leonard, the leading physician in Westover. “I cannot let you in, Miss Sutherland. Mrs. O’Flaherty has some kind of a low fever. I cannot tell just what it will develop into yet, but I could not allow you to run the risk of going in there.”
“But is there nothing I can do? The woman is so horribly poor. I’m not rich myself, but–”
“She will be all right now. Miss Van Gerder has gotten hold of her. She just chanced to learn today, that Mrs. O’Flaherty was ill, or she would have had me here before. You need not worry, Miss Sutherland. Miss Van Gerder will do all that is necessary. She has given me money for food, fuel and nurse. I can call upon her for as much more as I need. I wonder if you girls up at the college know half the good that Miss Van Gerder is doing with her wealth?”
“No, we don’t,” Mary said shortly, and then, ashamed of her curtness, she lingered to make some more inquiries.
Constance was waiting for her by the gate. Mary took the bundle from her arms, despite Constance’s remonstrances. “You are not going to carry my bundles, when I am along, at least. If you will tell me where that other woman lives of whom you were speaking just now, I will try to hunt her up.”
“I can take you there, but she lives on such a funny back street that I cannot well give you any directions.”