_ CHAPTER X. ON THE BORDER OF TRAGEDY
For two days Jack had been out of school with a sore throat. Today it was better. The ladies wanted to go out to match some trimming and view some elegant new party frocks that might do for a wedding gown.
"Now don't tear the house down while we are gone. And if you are good Jack, I'll bring you home that new top you wanted. Remember the noise disturbs Aunt Hetty."
But the children enjoyed the noise. Aunt Hetty's bell rang.
"Oh, Marilla, can't you keep those children in a little better order," said the fretful voice. "And get me a drink of cold tea, I feel so queer."
"I'm so sorry," answered the child, "I'll try my best. If only Jack wasn't home."
Jack was throwing the ball at the babies who made vague efforts to catch it.
"I'm so afraid you'll hurt them."
"Oh, you old fraid cat! You can't let a fellow have any fun! I'll give it to you."
It was not a heavy ball but he sent it with all his angry might. It struck against her heart and she went down in a little heap.
"I fixed you that time! Come, you can't play possum over me, get up!"
He touched her with his foot. Pansy ran and fell over her.
"Get up, you little clumsy skunk! You'll half kill her!"
"Poor Illa. Det up, Illa. Did bad Jack hurt 'ou?"
Jack turned her partly over. Her face was ghastly, with the eyes rolled up.
Aunt Hetty's bell rang. Jack ran down stairs.
"O, come up Bridget, Marilla's killed!"
"Ah, now you want to frighten a body out of her wits! You ought to be skinned alive."
"Oh, come quick!" Jack began to cry.
Bridget walked up stairs very deliberately, "Oh, Holy Mother of God! Get up, children. Marilla, dear--Oh, what have you done to her?"
She took the limp figure in her arms.
"Oh, me darlint! Wurra! wurra! And that bell! As if no one wanted anything but that old body with one foot in the grave. Jack run in next door and ask Mrs. Seymour to come at once; quick, or I'll bat you with a stick."
Then she went up stairs. The poor old body was lying in the reclining chair, her face distraught with fright.
"Send for the doctor at once, something has happened to me, I can't stir. My legs are heavy as lead. Where's Marilla? I've rung and rung!"
"Marilla's fainted dead away. Yes, I'll get the doctor," and down Bridget flew to open the front door.
"Oh for the love of heaven, will you come and talk to that thing in the wall an' get the doctor! Why, I'm most crazy."
"Yes, what doctor?" Mrs. Seymour went to the telephone.
"Doctor Baker, and then to Miss Armitage in Loraine place."
"Dr. Baker would come at once."
They found the lady's number. She was just going out but would stop there first.
Then she took Mrs. Seymour through to the nursery. The children were patting and petting Marilla.
"Get away, children, you've had her smothered."
"Does she faint often? She seems so well and merry."
"She did that time last summer. She was out with the babies and fell off of a stoop, I believe, an' she kept looking like a ghost for ever so long. That Miss Armitage took her to her house an' took care of her. She's a good woman, that she is. An' it's just my belief that Marilla isn't strong enough for the rough an' tumble of life. Some ain't you know, an' she's tugged these fat babies about often; there isn't but one nurse kept."
"Oh, they were too heavy for her to lift."
"Mrs. Borden didn't want her to, much. I'll say that for her. She was afraid the babies backs might get out of shape some way by a bad fall. She's a fair dealin' woman or I wouldn't have staid with her all these years. But Marilla isn't strong enough for the work, and the old Aunt wants a good deal of waiting on. It's run up an' down until you'd think her legs would just fall out."
Mrs. Seymour had been trying various restoratives. Now Marilla gave a long shuddering sigh, opened her eyes but closed them again.
"What beautiful long lashes she has! And such silky hair--"
"Oh, the saints be praised! I began to think she was dead! Poor darlint! 'Rilla dear--its Bridget who'd do anything in the world for you."
Dr. Baker arrived. He entered the room, looked at Marilla, felt of her pulse, and listened to the faint heart beats. "Give her a little brandy," he said. "Where's Mrs. Borden? I thought the old lady--"
"Oh, she is!" interrupted Bridget, "she can't stir her legs one bit. She's rale poorly, now I tell you, an' this child's been looking after her as well as the babies."
"That's twice too much." He ran lightly up the stairs to meet with a torrent of up-braidings.
"I thought I'd have to die here all alone! Where's Marilla? I've rung and rung."
"The girl has been in a dead faint. She's worn out. And you must have a regular nurse."
"Oh, dear!" Aunt Hetty began to cry, "couldn't I have her? 'Twouldn't be as bad as them two young ones. And I'd pay her well, too. She's so nice and good tempered with her face full of smiles and sunshine. Oh, if she's going to be ill what shall we all do?"
The brandy revived Marilla a little. She tried to speak but her lips felt stiff. They took her up carefully and laid her on the old lounge. The babies started to climb up over her at once, and howled fearfully when Bridget pulled them down with an ungentle shake and sat them on the floor. Then she went to answer the door bell and ushered in Miss Armitage.
Dr. Baker came down at the same moment. "Can't you shut those children up in some dungeon? They've voices like a foghorn. Ah, Miss Armitage. How is this patient?"
"Oh, I'm--better," raising up suddenly then falling back in a half faint.
"Don't stir, keep as still as you can. You've no strength to throw away on make believes. See here, babies," and he disgorged a paper of peppermints that at once soothed broken hearts.
"When will Mrs. Borden return?"
"Well, she'll be home to dinner," and Bridget grinned. "Things were all well enough when she went out. You see there's some weddin' fixings goin' on, and sure Miss Borden deserves a good husband when she's waited five years. How's the old lady?"
"It's pretty bad with her, though there's no immediate signs of her dying. But it's paralysis. Her limbs are cold and useless and I think it is creeping up her left side. She'll be another baby added to the family, unless she will go to a hospital which would be far better for her. She must have a steady nurse. I've been rather afraid of this."
"I must go and see to my dinner. Miss Armitage won't you stay until the ladies come home?"
Miss Armitage signified her willingness and laid aside her hat.
The babies were fairly gorging themselves.
"I'll be in again presently. I'll leave this for the child, to be given every half hour and she is to lie perfectly still."
Miss Armitage smiled down in the pallid face. It had grown quite thin again, but it seemed to hold an ethical sweetness. Marilla put out one slim hand.
"It seems too bad the old lady should be taken ill at this juncture," said Mrs. Seymour. "And Manila's been such a faithful child. She's been growing tall this summer and autumn and I suppose has run ahead of her strength. Then with the two children to look after--well a little nurse girl has rather hard lines--they seldom have more than one, or if they do the others are older. My two boys are in boarding school. I've wished one was a girl, they are so much more company for the mother. But I'd wanted
her to be pretty," she cast a sidelong glance at the twins. "It's a pity Jack should have taken all the beauty."
The twins felt so comfortable over the candy that they went to playing with their blocks. Miss Armitage gave her patient the second dose of her medicine and she closed her eyes.
There was almost a shriek as Bridget opened the hall door with--"the merciful saints preserve us! Has Jack been run over by one of them fury things?"
Jack was crying and the blood was streaming from his nose all over his blouse.
"He's been fighting, the bad boy, with a nasty, dirty tramp!"
Bridget in her inmost heart hoped he had the worst of it. "Whist!" she exclaimed, "there's two sick folks in the house, the doctor's been an' he's coming again!"
"Sick! Oh, what has happened?"
"Well, the old lady's had a stroke, an' Marilla had a bad faint again. I thought sure she was dead."
Mrs. Borden dropped into the hall chair and began to cry hysterically.
"Jack, go straight up to the bath room," said his aunt.
"And the neighbors came in, Mrs. Seymour to talk through that funnel, and then Miss Armitage and the doctor," went on Bridget.
"It's a pity one can't stir out of the house without something happening," sobbed the mistress. "And we're both so tired."
"There dear, come up stairs." Florence took Mrs. Borden by the arm, and they ascended together. "Now I'll go and look after Jack."
She put a big apron over her dress. Jack sat on the bath room floor crying.
"Get up and take off those dirty things. Come, your father will soon be home and I don't know what he'll do to you," said his aunt.
"He may strap me if he likes, but I ain't going to be called a snotnosed scabby sneak of a devil--"
"Hush! hush! I won't listen to such a talk--"
"--And he slapped me in the face, and I kicked his shins good, and then we fit and I give him a punch in the belly and a good bunk in the eye--"
"Stop Jack, I won't hear another word. Let me get you washed up. There comes your father."
Jack's nose had stopped bleeding and he was washed and put in some clean clothes. Mrs. Borden laid aside her wrap and hat and went through to the nursery. The peppermint must have been a sedative to nerves and stomach for the twins looked up with an angelic smile and went on house building. Mrs. Seymour made the explanations.
"What could Marilla have been doing? She was well enough when we went out."
Miss Armitage gave the hand she held a gentle squeeze and she saw the eyelids quiver.
"I'm sure I am very much obliged to you both. I was sorry to miss you that day you called, Miss Armitage. Oh dear, how you must have been frightened! And poor Aunt Hetty! Is it really true--"
"The doctor couldn't tell the absolute danger so soon--"
"Oh, I think it has been coming on some time. She's dragged her feet and she had a quick, almost spiteful way of walking, if one may call it that. She protested against people slouching round without animation enough to lift their feet. And some days she wouldn't come down to any meal. Well, she's a pretty old lady; we've always let her have her way."
Jack came into the room rather meek but a handsome little fellow in spite of a lump on his forehead. He had run out of doors without waiting to hear the result of Marilla's fall.
"Well, Captain!" said his father, holding out his hand.
Mrs. Seymour went home after proffering her services if she should be needed through the night. The dinner bell rang and Miss Borden insisted the guest must go down to dinner and she would stay with the children.
"We're having our dinner a little late this evening on account of a guest; otherwise I would accept. I can stay half an hour longer. Then if you won't mind my coming around about nine to hear the doctor's verdict."
"Oh, you are very sympathetic. Thank you. I only hope Marilla won't have a bad time as she did last summer. Why she's never fainted since."
Jack behaved beautifully at the table. No one spoke of the fight. But he kept up a shivery thought of wondering if the ball he had thrown at Marilla had really hurt her. It wasn't a hard ball, at least not as hard as they had sometimes in the street.
No one appeared very hungry. Mrs. Borden went up to look after Aunt Hetty who seemed disinclined to talk and only wanted a cup of tea. Mr. Borden looked at Marilla who had fallen asleep. Then he went through to the other room and took Jack on his knee.
"Now let's hear about the fight," he said, but his voice didn't seem very stern.
Jack really wanted to cry. He felt sort of bruised and beaten though he had knocked down his adversary and would have stamped on him if his mother had not appeared at that moment and carried him off.
"Well, you see"--and the boy winked very hard.
"Who begun it?"
"Why, that Patsy's a reg'lar bum! He's called me names--he plays hookey too, and he tried to trip me up and I give him a left-hander, and he called me a stinking pup and ever so many nasty names and then we went at it. Papa, you may strap me if you want to, but if I hadn't fit the boys would have made fun of me and called me sissy, and we went at it like fury. He made my nose bleed, and I guess I gave him a black eye; and I kicked his shins--he's got fat legs. He's just a bounder and teacher said he'd wind up in the reform school. I just wish he would!" with an angry zest.
"How do boys learn such shocking talk?" asked Aunt Florence, "When they never hear it at home, and as for fighting--"
"It is in the outside air and perhaps like measles runs through boyhood. Jack, I want you to stand up for yourself though I don't admire street fights."
"But I won't be called nasty names, and he said I was a sneak of a devil--"
"Try and keep out of the way of such boys. But if you
must fight stand up to it boldly. I think you didn't get the worst of it, but I guess it's good your mother came along just then, and now little boy you had better go to bed."
Jack was very glad nothing had been asked him about Marilla. He was tired and drowsy. But Aunt Florence said, "Jack I think you were a very bad boy."
Dr. Baker came in and took another look at Marilla whose pulse was still very fluttering.
"What do you suppose it is?" asked Mrs. Borden, anxiously.
"The child has a weak heart. Perhaps no organic disease at present, and if she gets through the next two or three years safely all may go well with her. But she ought not have any severe strain. Do you know anything about her family?"
"She hasn't any, I took her from that Bethany Home. She's a nice, willing, pleasant girl and a splendid hand with babies. But she was with Miss Armitage all through that awful time we had with the children teething, and the babies
are good. I resolved I'd never make children so troublesome as Jack was, waiting on them hand and foot. I've had a different system with them."
"The system seems to have worked well, but I think you need a stronger nursemaid."
"I've never let her lift them, I knew it was not safe for them," laughing. "Though think how poor children carry babies about; but now tell me about Aunt Hetty."
"I think it is the beginning of the end. You can't quite tell, but she's pretty well worn out with the years, and she must have a steady nurse. A hospital would be best."
"Yes, we will talk that over."
"Have you any one for tonight?"
"No. Is it as bad as that?" and Mrs. Borden turned pale.
"I should advise an emergency nurse for a week or so; by that time you can make some plans."
Mrs. Vanderveer was comfortable, but she did not want to be left alone.
"Oh, isn't it dreadful, Florence, that this should happen just now. If it only could have waited until Christmas," Mrs. Borden said with tears in her eyes. "I meant you should have such a happy wedding. You've always been like an own sister to me."
"Well, we won't worry tonight. Only--"
Miss Armitage came in and heard the story through.
"Let me telephone at once to the nurses' home, then you will feel relieved. And perhaps it would be a good thing to send Marilla to me for a little while again."
"I cannot do without a nurse girl."
"But a week or two may restore Marilla."
The nurse came, a wholesome middle aged body who had been for weeks with a helpless paralytic. And so the midnight found them all comfortable. Marilla was left on the lounge. Miss Armitage sat a long while in her soft wrapper planning about the child she felt she must rescue. Oh, she
did want her. She did not try to give any reason for the love that had stolen almost unaware in her heart, or the faith that this child would not disappoint her. Every year she was growing older, every year she longed more for some one of her very own. Why should she not play fairy godmother in earnest? She must have Dr. Richard's verdict.
For Mrs. Borden with many kindly qualities looked at matters only as they applied to herself. When Marilla was eighteen she would come to the freedom of a bound-out girl, too old to begin another life, settled in a rut--if she lived. Was she not one of the little ones that might be rescued and live out a higher life? There were many who could not, but she felt she must go carefully.
Mrs. Holmes proved an admirable nurse and Aunt Hetty took to her in an astonishing manner. She was attractive to the children, as well, who greeted her with a smile.
On the next day Dr. Baker admitted the paralysis was gaining rapidly and thought she could not last long. That evening she said to the nurse, "Send Mr. Borden up here, and you stay down with the ladies."
He came up and greeted her cordially, hoping for better things, as friends are wont to say.
"No, John, there will not be any better, so we won't indulge in make believes. Carry and James were quite sure this way of living wasn't good for me. They wanted me to buy a house and make it over to them and they would care for me the rest of my life. I've lived with Carry, paid her good board, too, so I knew what that would be. I couldn't live quite alone, you see--I always wanted some one round that I could see if I wanted to. Old people do get queer. So when I had to foreclose here I made you this offer. You're the only one of them all who has not asked me outright for money, and I honor you for it. Your mortgage here is twenty-three hundred."
"Yes," he said with a vague sort of hope that she wasn't going to ask him to settle it.
"I want you to get it cancelled; I'll give you the order. I've meant to do this the last year. Carry worried so at me that I went away with her and felt none the better for it. I'd rather staid at home with Bridget. So you see to that at once. And I want to make a new will."
"Aunt Hetty! Well, I don't know what to say," and his tone showed his surprise. "Don't say anything." She gave her little cackle of a laugh that always had a sound of derision in it. "You know I can't take any of it with me, and I'd like to know it will make few people pleased and happy. I'm going to make you executor, so get some one else to write out the will. I fixed it to my liking today. You've all been very good to put up with my whims and queernesses. Old people don't like too much advice, especially where money is concerned. Look in the second drawer there--in a long envelope."
"Thank you for this expression of your satisfaction. The babies and Jack may have been a nuisance at times."
"But that little girl's been good enough to make up for any annoyance--not that there's been much. Jack's a smart, funny little fellow. You know they're all more or less bad, but they grow up pretty fair. There now, I'm tired."
Mr. Borden wished her a kindly good-night and went down stairs to recount the wonderful interview.
"Oh, John!" Mrs. Borden leaned her head down on her husband's shoulder. "What a streak of good fortune! Now we really do own the house free and clear, I thought our summering would be quite moderate but it wasn't. Still it did the babies an immense deal of good after they got over their awful time. And they're so nice and well now, and are growing better looking all the time. If Marilla only
could make their hair curl! It's so stringy, and we haven't worried at Aunt Hetty for what she did or what she didn't do, and weren't snappy when she found fault. I used to think she needn't have rung for Marilla quite so much, but the child never minded running up and down."
"How has she been today?"
"Well, I don't just know; Dr. Baker said she must keep pretty still, so she's laid on the old lounge, but the babies would crawl over her. It does seem as if we must have someone else--an older person, though some of them object to taking out children. But if we want to get much sewing done--"
"I think I'll have a seamstress for a week or so," said Aunt Florence, "time goes on so fast."
Marilla had gone up stairs to her own bed, where Bridget had crooned over her in tender Irish fashion.
"An' I'm sore afraid them babies'll be the death of you, poor lamb! They drag on you so, and their chatter would drive me crazy."
"But they're so funny."
"I don't call it funny with their hundred and fifty wants," sniffed Bridget.
Marilla turned faint now and then but for several days she was not sent out with the children. Miss Armitage came over every day to inquire about both invalids. Mrs. Vanderveer dozed a good deal and the numbness seemed crawling further up her body.
"She may have another stroke and she may go just this way," said Mrs. Holmes, "I wouldn't give her more than a month at the longest. I've seen it so many times. But it is merciful for them not to last years."
It was mid-October then. The seamstress proved a treasure. Garments were completed and laid away.
"I want most of the work finished up in November," said Mrs. Borden, "then we can plan all the other matters."
"I shall have to look up some one else. I want a nurse to take up the children in the morning and wash and dress them, and they must go out. They're losing all their lovely weather. Marilla doesn't seem to get along at all. If she's going to develop some heart trouble she will just be good for nothing. Of course, when I took her she seemed healthy enough, and it was the best thing to do then. John has had some good luck this fall and we don't need to think of saving up money for the mortgage. I could afford a regular nurse, and it would ease me up so much. I don't suppose they'd take Marilla back at the Home."
"Talk to John about it if; we
could find a new place for her. Why, she would make a nice little waitress. If you could keep three girls," laughingly.
"Dear me, we must not spread out too rapidly, and somehow I'd hate to give her up. She trains the children so nicely. And have you noticed how sort of gentlemanly Jack is growing toward her? He was real rude."
Jack had experienced many qualms of conscience about throwing the ball that day, but Marilla made no reference to it. Still she might tell Bridget, she and Bridget were such cronies, and Bridget would make an awful fuss.
"Marilla," he said one night when she was getting him ready for bed--"I didn't mean to hurt you that day with the ball--you know. I didn't think girls were so tender."
"I was tired and there had been something stopping my breath like, now and then, maybe it wasn't the ball."
"You were good not to tell on a fellow. I'll never, never hurt you again, nor pinch you, nor be ugly to you. You're so sweet, Marilla," and he clasped his arms around her neck, kissing her. _