“I’d go to see them and tell them all about it, if I were you,” said Carry.
“To be sure; that’s just what I will do,” exclaimed Blanche, brightening. “I’ve got to do some errands out anyway, and, after attending to them, I’ll go right on to my uncles’ store and tell—‘my tale of woe,’” she concluded with a vain attempt at mirthfulness.
With that she ran up to her room and hastened to attire herself neatly for her errand. She had left Ethel in bed and alone, the physician having enjoined it upon her to go to sleep as speedily and soundly as possible.
Blanche found her uncles in their office. They looked somewhat surprised at sight of her, but greeted her kindly, asking if she and her brother and sisters were all well.
At that Blanche burst into tears and sobbed hysterically for a moment.
“What is it, dear child?” asked her Uncle Albert, taking her hand and drawing her to a seat upon his knee. “I fear you are having a hard time of it, trying to support yourselves. Is some one of you ill?”
“Yes, sir; Ethel—Ethel has—has broken down,” sobbed the little girl. “Oh, uncle, I’m so afraid she’ll die! The doctor says she’s all worn out; for she has just worked, and worked, and worked from early in the morning till late at night every day but Sunday; and she can’t get out of her bed now—and—and oh, I don’t know what we will do, for she’s the head one that directs all the rest of us.”
“Ah, she should not be so wilful,” remarked Mr. George Eldon grimly. “However, you needn’t fret, child; of course we, your uncles, will see that you do not come to want; that you are provided with all necessary things.”
“Of course we will,” said Uncle Albert, “and Ethel must do as the doctor advises—not exert herself in the least till he pronounces her entirely recovered. I will go back with you, Blanche, see Ethel, and do what lies in my power to make her easy in body and mind. And you may feel sure that none of you will be allowed to want for anything your uncles can supply.”
“Yes, that will be well,” said his brother, “and tell Ethel from me that I shall be round to see her before long, probably either this evening or to-morrow morning. But she is not to stay awake expecting me,” he added with a slight smile. “Come here, Blanche, and give your old uncle a kiss before you go. There,” putting an arm about her as she stood at his side, and kissing her affectionately, “don’t fret, little girl, while you have two uncles able and willing to provide you and the others with whatever may be needful to make you comfortable.”