Josephine Dodge Daskam

“ A burst of laughter from the kitchen garden startled them, and Belden started up as if to check it.
"Don't stop em—it's the servants. Why shouldn't they laugh?" said Peter quietly. "I've been thinking it all over. If Caddy—if—if she doesn't get well, she doesn't want a lot of black and all that. It's bad for the children. And she said the children oughtn't to grow up without a mother—think of that!" ”

“ Oh, Belden, what shall we do?"
"Brace up, Peter. Think what a good fighting chance means—think of that! It's not as if Caddy were old; she has that on her side. She's seven years behind me, you know."
Peter scowled.
"You're fifty, aren't you?"
"Not a bit. Only forty-eight, and just that, too. Now you go out and get the nurse, and I'll stay here. It'll do you a lot of good. Don't mope around in the house all day. What's the use?"
"I can't leave the house. Honestly, Belden, I can't. I've tried twice, and I just walk right back. It's no good. There's the cart—and you won't be long, will you?" ”

“ She turned and left the hall, and he, chafing under a sense of merited rebuke, conscious of a foolish petulance, went discontentedly into the library. He seemed to be continually at fault with Miss Strong, but unable to resist the effort to master her.
The evening was very lonely and still. Peter had gone to his room early and the children had effaced themselves: Susy was with them. Aunt Lucia read by the fire. Belden's mind turned unconsciously to the old days when Caddy and he dreamed out their future in the nursery. ”

“ Miss Strong will take care of me. When I think how I have the best of everything—such care—I've been a very happy woman, Will, dear."
His eyes filled. He threw her a kiss and went out blindly. A hand touched his arm.
"You've done her good," said the nurse softly. "You stayed just long enough. She'll take her nap now." ”

“ To a deep-seated, involuntary disgust that any woman should have to earn her living he added a displeased wonder that one should choose this method of doing it. Why did they not marry? This woman was good-looking enough. ”

“ Miss Strong—an invaluable person—is kindly assisting me. Did I say three? Yes, of course. Thank you. We are playing for beans, only, you see."
Belden watched them curiously. She sat as imperturbably as by Caddy's bed-side, her eyes fixed thoughtfully on her cards.
"You will excuse me, Belden, but your aunt, Mrs. Wetherly, is a somewhat unusually irritating woman," continued the Doctor.
"What has she done?"
"She insists that Mrs. Moore shall not only see Mr. Burchard, to which I have not the least objection, but that he shall hold a Communion Service, directly, there. ”

“ Jameson is coming—they'll do it here. Jameson brings his special nurse for the —the operation, but the other one is due at five, and you get her just the same. I told Henry to put up the dog-cart. I don't know, though—maybe the runabout—no, the tyre's loose. Still, it might do——"
"For heaven's sake, Peter, don't bother about it. I'll find a trap. What else does he say?"
"He says there's a good fighting chance—a very good one. He says her stamina alone—oh, Belden, what shall we do? What shall we do?"
Peter sat down heavily on the lowest stair. ”

“ Belden queried.
"Oh, it's her calm way and her voice. You want to do everything she asks. Norah says she's sure Mrs. Moore will get well now, with her to take care of her. By George, Will, if she pulls Caddy through it'll be worth her while, I tell you."
"Oh, they always do their best. And they all have that habit, I fancy. It's part of the training."
Peter looked up surprised. ”

“ The others, clustered in the library, spoke fitfully.
"They carried her on a cot into the west room," somebody murmured close to Belden. It was little Margaret. "I saw her. She waved her hand at me! I threw her a kiss. Miss Strong smiled at me—I love Miss Strong."
Aunt Lucia sobbed. Susy bit her lip and played with Billy's unwilling hand.
"Where's my father? Where's he gone?" he demanded. "Who's that other woman with the apron?"
Miss Strong appeared at the door. "She has taken the ether very well indeed; they are much pleased," she said softly. They hung on her words ”