Part 27 (1/2)
The doctor took off his gloves, rubbed his hands together two or three times, then went to the bedside.
Rachel looked at him; but seemed to pay no attention to him or any one else. He felt of her head and pulse, then asked Miss Christine if she had ever seen her in a fever before.
”No,” replied Miss Christine; ”but she often has severe headaches; she has a sore throat now.”
”Bring the light nearer,” said the doctor. ”Now, my dear young lady, will you please open your mouth?”
But Rachel only moved her head, and showed signs of becoming restless.
The doctor stooped down, opened her mouth himself, and tried to look down her throat; but she resisted him, and commenced sobbing and muttering incoherently. The doctor soothed her as he would a little child, and she became quiet.
”Has she complained of pain in her back and limbs?”
”None at all,” replied Miss Christine. ”I asked her particularly.”
”Give her a teaspoonful of this mixture every half hour until the fever abates,” handing a gla.s.s to Miss Christine, ”I will come again to-morrow morning.”
”O doctor,” whispered Marion, who had silently watched every movement, ”is it scarlet fever?”
Miss Christine said nothing, but her eyes asked the same question.
”Of course I cannot tell yet,” said the doctor, rising and drawing on his gloves, ”but I hardly think it is. I noticed her the other day, when I was here, and remember thinking at the time that even a slight illness would seem more severe with her than with most persons. She looks like a person who had suffered and endured without complaint. I don't like to see that sort of look on a young face. When she is ill this unnatural self-control gives way, and she's out of her head, when any other person would be all straight. However, I advise you to keep all the scholars away from her for the present. As for this young lady,” taking hold of Marion's hand, ”the best place for such adventurous young females, who go about crossing broken bridges at midnight, is bed.”
”What do you mean by broken bridges, doctor?” asked Miss Christine.
”Only that the bridge was down, and she crossed on the beams, that's all. My prescription for her is a gla.s.s of hot lemonade with a drop of something in it to keep it; you understand, Miss Christine;” and the doctor nodded his head significantly as he left the room.
”My dear Marion,” whispered Miss Christine, as she threw her arms around her, ”you are the bravest girl I ever knew!”
”Nonsense!” replied Marion, ”and please don't say anything about it downstairs in the morning; I won't be talked about.”
”I understand,” said Miss Christine; ”but now you must go straight to bed. I'll heat the lemonade over the gas, and bring it in to you.”
”Miss Christine, you go and lie down yourself, and I'll sit up; indeed, I couldn't sleep if I went to bed.”
”Yes, you will, and don't talk of sitting up, for I won't allow it; go right away.”
Marion obeyed; in a very few moments she was in bed, had drank the lemonade, and, before she knew she was even drowsy, was fast asleep.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE VICTORY.
The next day the scholars were all very much astonished to find Rachel was really ill, so much so that the doctor had been sent for in the night; but none were aware of Marion's midnight adventure, for Miss Christine had kept her promise to say nothing about it.
Recitations were given up until Miss Stiefbach should return, and the scholars were all requested to keep as quiet as possible. Every one went about with noiseless steps and hushed voices; some learning that Rachel had been delirious, and had a fever, were seriously frightened lest it should prove to be contagious, and it was as much as the older girls could do to keep the little ones in order.
About ten o'clock the doctor came, and the scholars all collected in the school-room and library, waiting to hear his verdict. Marion and Florence went to their own room, leaving the door ajar, that they might hear the doctor when he went down, and learn from his own lips his opinion of the case.