By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY, Author of “Aunt Diana,” “For Lilias,” etc.
“‘OH, MERLE!’ SHE WHISPERED, IN A VOICE OF AGONY.”
All rights reserved.]
CHAPTER IX.
BERENGARIA.
he bright spring days found me a close prisoner to the house. The end of April had been unusually chilly, and one cold rainy night Reggie was taken with an attack of croup.
It was a very severe attack, and for an hour or two my alarm was excessive. Mrs. Morton was at a fancy ball, and Mr. Morton was attending a late debate, and, to add to my trouble, Mrs. Garnett, who would at once have come to my assistance, was confined to her bed with a slight illness.
Travers had no experience in these cases, and her presence was perfectly useless. Hannah, frightened and half awake as she was, was far more helpful. Happily Anderson was still up, and he undertook at once to go for the doctor, adding, of his own accord, that he would go round to the stables on his return, and send the carriage off for his mistress. “She is not expected home until three, and it is only half-past one, but she would never forgive us if she were not fetched as quickly as possible.”