eterfindahtallabahtitwhenshegitsbetter.'
Forawhilethetwowomensatstill,waitingthedoctor'scoming,andLizalaygazingvacantlyatthewall,pantingforbreath.SometimesJimcrossedhermind,andsheopenedhermouthtocallforhim,butinherdespairsherestrainedherself.
Thedoctorcame.
'D'youthinkshe'sbad,doctor?'askedMrs.Hodges.
'I'mafraidsheisrather,'heanswered.'I'llcomeinagainthisevening.'
'Oh,doctor,'saidMrs.Kemp,ashewasgoing,'couldyergivemesomethin'formyrheumatics?I'mamartyrtorheumatism,an'thesecolddaysI'ardlyknowswotterdowithmyself.An',doctor,couldyouletme'avesomebeef-tea?My'usbind'sdead,an'ofcourseIcan'tdonoworkwithmydaughterilllikethis,an'we'reveryshort—'
Thedaypassed,andintheeveningMrs.Hodges,whohadbeenattendingtoherowndomesticduties,camedownstairsagain.Mrs.Kempwasonthebedsleeping.
'Iwasjust'avin'alittlenap,'shesaidtoMrs.Hodges,onwaking.
''Owisthegirl?'askedthatlady.
'Oh,'answeredMrs.Kemp,'myrheumatics'asbeenthetbadIreally'aven'tknownwotterdowithmyself,an'nowLizacan'trubmeI'mworsethanever.ItisunfortunatethetsheshouldgetilljustnowwhenIwantsomuchattendin'termyself,butthere,it'sjustmyluck!'
Mrs.HodgeswentoverandlookedatLizashewaslyingjustaswhensheleftinthemorning,hercheeksflushed,hermouthopenforbreath,andtinybeadsofsweatstoodonherforehead.
''Owareyer,ducky?'askedMrs.HodgesbutLizadidnotanswer.
'It'smybeliefshe'sunconscious,'saidMrs.Kemp.'I'vebeenaskin''er'ooitwasasdoneit,butshedon'tseemto'earwotIsay.It'sbeenagreatshockterme,Mrs.'Odges.'
'Ibelieveyou,'repliedthatlady,sympathetically.
'Well,whenyoucomeinandsaidwotitwas,yermight'aveknockedmedahnwithafeather.Iknewnomorethanthedeadwot'ad'appened.'
'Isawatoncewotitwas,'saidMrs.Hodges,noddingherhead.
'Yus,ofcourse,youknew.Iexpectyou've'adagreatdealofpracticeonewayan'another.'
'You'reright,Mrs.Kemp,you'reright.I'vebeenonthejobnowfornearlytwentyyears,an'ifIdon'tknowsomethi