Meantime for Maddy Dr. Holbrook had prescribed perfect quiet, bidding them darken the windows from which the shade had been removed, and ordering all save the grandmother to leave the room and let the patient sleep, if possible. Even Jessie was not permitted to stay, though Maddy clung to her as to a dear friend. In a few whispered words Jessie had told her name, saying she came from Aikenside, and that her brother Guy was there too, in the carriage. “He heard how sick you were at Devonshire, this morning, and drove right home for me to come to see you. I told him of you that day in the office, and that’s why he brought me, I guess. You’ll like Guy, I know—he’s so good.”
Sick and weary as she was, and unable as yet to comprehend the entire meaning of all she heard, Maddy was conscious of a thrill of pleasure in knowing that Guy Remington from Aikenside was interested in her, and had brought his sister to see her. Winding her arms around Jessie’s neck, she kissed the soft, warm cheek, and said, “You’ll come again, I hope.”
“Yes, every day, if mamma will let me. I don’t mind it a bit, if you are poor.”
“Come, come,” and Dr. Holbrook, who had all the while been standing near, took Jessie by the arm and led her out to where Guy was waiting for her.
CHAPTER VI.
CONVALESCENCE.
Had it not been for the presence of Dr. Holbrook, who, accepting Guy’s invitation to tea, rode back with him to Aikenside, Mrs. Agnes would have flown into a passion when told that Jessie had been exposed to fever, of which she had a great dread.
“There’s no telling what one will catch among the very poor,” she said to Dr. Holbrook, as she clasped and unclasped the heavy gold bracelets on her white, round arm.
“I’ll be answerable for any disease Jessie caught at Mr. Markham’s,” the doctor replied:
“At Mr. Who’s? What did you call him?” Agnes asked quickly, the bright color on her cheek fading as the doctor replied: