Part 21 (1/2)
Dr Eaton pondered thoughtfully for a few moments.
”It might work, and again it might not.”
”Well, there ain't no harm tryin'. Fix up a good advertis.e.m.e.nt and put it in all the papers--Dutch, Italian, French and Irish. The babies are all kinds.”
By the time they arrived at the big house in Brookvale Drusilla was very much interested in her new scheme.
”No,” she said firmly to Dr. Eaton when he intimated that he must leave; ”you ain't goin' now. Jest you come with me. Jane, you take this girl and this baby up to one of the spare rooms and see she has a bath and the baby some milk. Have you had your dinner? No; of course not. Jane, git her somethin' to eat--somethin' solid; not them finicky things the cook makes. Git her all fixed up; then come to me.
Dr. Eaton, you come with me to that big room I was a lookin' at the other day.”
She led the way to the third floor, where there was a big billiard room.
”Isn't this just the right kind of a room for babies?” she exclaimed. ”Look at them windows to let the sun in! Now, how many beds can I put here? We'll take them big tables out and we can put a lot of beds side by side; and the nurse can sleep in this room here that opens out of it, with the littlest babies near her.”
The doctor looked at the room.
”It seems made for a nursery, doesn't it?” he commented. ”Let's see.
You could put six little beds along each side, and a couple in the other room with the nurse's bed. That would more than dispose of your dozen already.”
”And I been a-worryin' what to do with 'em all when I got this room!
I ought 'a' been ashamed of myself! Now, you run right along and order the things we need--beds and whatever babies should have--and send them right up. Tell the storekeepers that they must git here at once or I won't take 'em. I can jest see James's face when I tell him his wife won't need to keep them five babies he's got any longer.
I'll go and take my bunnet off and help move.”
Within the next two days twelve little beds were established in the billiard room, and the little mother was installed as first nurse, with Jane and a couple of girls hired as a.s.sistants.
That evening Drusilla was sitting down to dinner--or supper, as she called it--when Mr. Thornton was ushered in. He was more severe and uncompromising than ever, and Drusilla said to herself, ”I'm in for it. He's heard somethin'.”
But she did not show that she was a wee bit nervous. She said, as if it were the usual thing for him to make her an evening call,
”Why, how do you do, Mr. Thornton? Won't you have some supper with me?”
”No, thank you. I came to talk with you.”
”Now, that's real nice of you. I always like to talk. Set right down and we'll have a comfortable visit. You'd better change your mind and have some supper.”
”No; my dinner is waiting for me.”
”I eat my dinner in the middle of the day, though James will call it lunch. I think a great big dinner at night makes you dream of your grandmother, so I have mine like I used to.”
”I understand that you have been to court, and brought home with you that woman and her child.”
”Well, well! How news does travel! How did you hear that?”
”It is in the evening papers.”
”Is it? Well, I do declare! It seems I can't do nothin' but what I git in the papers. I don't need to talk to git writ up; my money talks for me. What did they say?”
The lawyer drew a paper from his pocket and handed it to Drusilla.
She took her gla.s.ses from her forehead, where they had been resting, and read aloud: MISS DRUSILLA DOANE, THE FRIEND OF THE FRIENDLESS.