“There’s work been done while you’ve been fighting,” she said; “and there’s work yet to be done if your wife’s life is to be saved; and work ’at only women can do——”
“Have done, woman!” he commanded, “and get your things on, if you have any. I don’t want to lay my hands on you; but, by my soul if you aren’t out of this house in another minute I’ll throw you out!”
“Lord save us!” ejaculated Keturah, who had been frightened into silence by Inman’s look and voice. “This is what comes o’ whisky-drinking. Eh, dear! Eh, dear! and Nancy on her dying bed at this minute!”
“Take t’ spoon, Keturah,” said Hannah, as Inman uttered an impatient exclamation. “We mustn’t have a row i’ t’ house, choose what else we have. I’ll go, seeing as I must; and I hope an’ trust ’at t’ worst is over and Nancy’ll pull through now. Maybe you’ll find time to run across and bring me word.”
“It’s come to a bonny pass,” wailed Keturah with a spark of spirit, as she took up the spoon and Hannah’s work; “when we’ve to be at t’ beck and call of a man nob’dy’d set eyes on this time was a twelve-month, and ordered about same as we was slaves, and he’d use t’ whip to wer backs——”
“And so I would for two pins,” Inman broke in sharply. “Shut your mouth, woman! It’s a sick house,” he added with a sneer—“and we must have quiet! Tell your brother,” he said to Hannah as he held open the door for her to pass out, “that I shall begin the treatment I spoke of this very night, and he can have that thought to sleep on. And don’t forget that this door’s closed to you!”
He went upstairs without returning to the kitchen and Keturah heard his voice on the landing in conversation with the doctor. By and by the two men came down together and passed into the parlour.
“I care nothing about the child’s life,” Inman said in a tone that was strange to Keturah; “but I hope you’ll not let the mother slip through your fingers. You don’t often hear a man talk of disappointments at a time like this I daresay, but it’ll be a big disappointment to me if she dies. If there’s anything else to be done; any other man you think could help——”
“It will be settled one way or the other, my lad, before any other man could get here,” interposed the doctor. “She’s putting up a better fight now than I gave her credit for, and I wouldn’t say that she hasn’t a chance. No! no! not for me,” he added as Inman produced a bottle and a couple of tumblers. “A drop before I go to bed, maybe; but never whilst there’s work to be done.”
“Then I ought to sign off the stuff for a month or two,” said Inman with a hard laugh, “for I’ve work to do that I’d be sorry to spoil.”