And as neither of the women moved, she added:
"Get down and dress."
Emily gasped, at length: "How can this be? How——"
The doctor spoke more kindly as soon as she turned to Emily to answer: "It's hysteria. It's nothing but hysteria."
"But those symptoms—those——"
Emily was incredulous.
"I've had three cases of this this week. They distrust their precautions and get panicky. They lose their heads."
"I never heard of such a thing in my life," Emily babbled.
"I don't suppose you have!" The doctor spoke tartly. "When you had this child, women had nerve enough to carry them through!" She turned and looked almost scornfully at Martha.
Martha had sat down abruptly on a chair. Emily helped her into her coat. The doctor had been explaining to Emily: the girl ought to be put to bed early for a while, well fed, allowed no dances, no theaters, and kept much out-of-doors. And when Martha had sat down abruptly, after putting her coat on, she said: