Part 13 (1/2)
”You don't understand me, my poor child! It is not your fault, it is ours. We gave in to you too much. But you behaved so badly if we did not.”
Mary looked up, startled: ”I behaved badly?”
”I spoke to your father, child; I spoke to him on the subject often. But he was so tender-hearted; he always found some excuse.”
Jorgen entered with the doctor.
”If any complication arises, Miss Krog, the worst may happen.”
”Will he be paralysed?” asked Mrs. Dawes.
The doctor evaded the question; he merely said: ”Quiet is all important.”
Silence followed this utterance.
”Miss Krog, I cannot allow you to nurse your father. There ought to be two trained nurses.”
Mary said nothing. Mrs. Dawes began to cry again. ”This is a sad change of days.”
The doctor took leave, and was escorted downstairs by Jorgen Thiis. When Jorgen returned, he asked softly: ”Shall I go too--or can I be of any use?”
”Oh, do not leave us!” wailed Mrs. Dawes.
Jorgen looked at Mary, who said nothing; nor did she look up. She was weeping silently.
”You know, Miss Krog,” said he respectfully, ”that there is no one to whom I would so willingly be of service.”
”We know that, we know that!” sobbed Mrs. Dawes.
Mary had raised her head, but, Mrs. Dawes having spoken, she said nothing.
When she left the room soon afterwards, Jorgen was just opening his door, which was next to Mary's. He stood for a moment with the door wide open, so that she saw the packed portmanteau behind him. She stopped.
”You are going?” she said.
”Yes,” answered he.
”It will be very quiet here now.”
Jorgen expected more, but no more came. Then he said:
”The shooting season begins immediately. I had intended to ask your father's permission to shoot in his woods.”
”If you consider mine sufficient, you have it.”
”Thank you, Miss Krog! You will allow me, too, to look in upon you sometimes, I hope?” He took her hand and bowed deeply over it.
Then he went in to take leave of Mrs. Dawes. With her he stayed ten minutes at least, coming out just as Mary was crossing the pa.s.sage to her father's room.
As she stood by the bed Anders began to move, and opened his eyes. She knelt down. ”Father!”