“I’m afraid poor Evadne will be worn out with such constant attendance upon Louis,” said Marion some weeks after Pompey’s death. “I don’t see how she stands it.”
“It is hardly worth her while to undertake nursing,” said Isabelle coldly, “if she cannot stand such a trifle as this.”
“Why, Isabelle, just think of the strain night after night! You wouldn’t like it, I know. I want Mamma to get a paid nurse, but Louis won’t have any one near him but Evadne.”
“Of course
Marion laughed incredulously. “I should never think of associating Evadne’s name with disgrace,” she said. “What
“Mamma says this nursing fad of hers upset Papa completely. He said the Hildreth honor had better not be mentioned any more.”
“Well, I don’t know. It seems to me she is of a good deal more value to him now than the Hildreth honor. Dr. Russe says she is one of the best nurses he ever saw. That is a high compliment, for he is dreadfully particular. It is my opinion, Isabelle, that Louis is a good deal worse than we think him to be. Don’t mention it to Mamma, for she is so nervous, but I heard Dr. Russo talking to Papa in the hall this morning, something about an inherited tendency and a derangement of the nervous system. I could not understand – he spoke so low – but Papa looked dreadfully worried after he had gone.
“Don’t you think Papa looks very badly, Isabelle? And he seems so absent, as if he had something on his mind. I noticed it long before this happened.”
Isabelle laughed carelessly. “What a girl you are, Marion! You are always imagining things about people. For my part I have too many worries of my own.”
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