Tell Aunt Therese to go away, papa; papa, save me!" and
she clung to the doctor's arm. "Besides, you know," she went
on, speaking fast and eagerly, "I promised him--Monsieur
Horace, you know--and I must keep it, I must keep my promise to
Monsieur Horace,--I must, I must!"
"You hear?" said Jeanne-Marie, as Madelon fell back on the
pillow again muttering to herself.
"I hear," answered the doctor, "and I see that she is in a
high fever, and it may go hard with her, poor child! It is
fortunate she is with you, Jeanne-Marie," he went on, kindly,
"for you are a capital nurse, I know; but I am afraid it will
be a long business."
"That is no matter," she answered.
"If you would like to have her removed to the hospital at
Liege," continued the doctor, doubtfully, "it might still be
done. It may injure your business to have her here. Still, as
you say she is your niece----"
"As I say she is my niece," returned Jeanne-Marie, abruptly,
"it is not likely I should turn her out of the house, and that
is enough. My business will take care of itself. And now tell
me what I am to do, doctor?"
He prescribed for Madelon, said he would call again, and left
the house, pondering on the woman who kept so apart from her
neighbours, and on her small visitor, who he knew well enough
was not her niece, for had not Jacques Monnier told him how
Jeanne-Marie had suddenly come in out of the rain, carrying
the girl in her arms, and had taken her upstairs without a
word of explanation?
"There is a mystery somewhere," thought the doctor; "but it is
no concern of mine.
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