Part 7 (2/2)

Mrs. Randall's eyes were open when Betty returned to her bedside.

Indeed, the little girl's first impression was that they were unusually bright. There was a bright color in her cheeks too, but Mrs. Randall's first words quickly dispelled Betty's hope that she was better.

”I'm afraid I shall not be able to get up this morning, Betty,” she said, and her voice had sunk to a hoa.r.s.e whisper now; ”I seem to have lost all my strength, and there is such a terrible pain in my chest that I can scarcely breathe.”

”Oh, mother, what shall we do?” cried Betty in sudden consternation.

”Oughtn't you to have a doctor come to see you?”

Mrs. Randall shook her head decidedly.

”No, no,” she said impatiently, ”I can't afford to have a doctor; I will lie here for a while, and perhaps I shall feel better. What day is it?”

”Thursday,” said Betty, trying to control the sudden trembling of her knees.

”That's too bad; Mrs. Flynn is always engaged on Thursdays, I know. I thought she might be able to come in and help. Well, you'll have to manage about breakfast as well as you can. I don't want anything myself, but you must prepare some oatmeal, and boil some eggs for Jack and yourself. Tell Jack he must stay in bed a little while longer, but that just as soon as I can I will come and dress him.”

That was the strangest morning Betty and Jack had ever spent. Never before in their remembrance had their mother failed to be up and about by seven o'clock. Even in those sad days, which Betty could just remember, after their father's death, her own grief had never prevented her from fulfilling the little household duties. Now she lay still, with closed eyes, scarcely noticing what went on about her. Betty brought her some tea, and she drank it thirstily, but refused to touch any food.

Once she roused herself sufficiently to say that she thought a mustard plaster on her chest might ease the pain, but when Betty inquired anxiously how to make one, she did not answer, and seemed to have forgotten all about the matter.

Jack was very good and patient, but he was, if anything, more frightened than Betty, and his white, drawn little face was pitiful to see. Betty made him as tidy as she could, gave him his breakfast, and brought him his new story book to read, but he shook his head mournfully.

”I don't want to read this morning,” he said; ”I'd rather just lie still.”

”Oh, Jack, you're not going to be ill too, are you?” cried Betty, the tears starting to her eyes.

”No, I'm not ill, only I can't read; I wish I could see how mother looks.”

”She looks all right,” said Betty encouragingly; ”she's got a lovely color in her cheeks, only I wish she'd wake up and talk about things. I don't know what to do about going to market, and I suppose we ought to tell her pupils she can't give them any lessons to-day.”

”She's talking now, I hear her,” said Jack in a tone of relief. ”Oh, Betty, she's calling me. Yes, mother, dear, I'm all right; I'm so glad you're better.”

Betty flew to her mother's side.

”Are you better, mother?” she asked eagerly. ”I'm so glad you're awake, because I want to ask----” She paused abruptly, terrified by the strange look in those bright, feverish eyes. Her mother was looking straight into her face, but did not seem to see her.

”Jack, Jack,” she kept repeating in her low, hoa.r.s.e whisper, ”Jack, I want you. I did wrong, I know, but you will forgive me. You will be good to the children, and love them for my sake, won't you, Jack?”

Betty's face was very white, her eyes big with terror.

”Jack,” she gasped, running back to her brother's room, and flinging herself down beside him in an abandonment of grief and despair, ”mother's talking in her sleep; she doesn't know what she's saying. She thinks Uncle Jack is here. Oh, what shall we do--what shall we do?”

”We'll have to get some one to come and see her,” said Jack with decision. ”Run down and ask Mrs. Hamilton to come; I know she will, she's so kind.”

Betty sprang to her feet.

”I'll go right away,” she said, ”perhaps she'll know what to do. Mother says she can't afford to have a doctor. Oh, there's the door bell; I'm so glad somebody's come.”

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