the major-第37节

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〃Steady；　Kathleen；〃　said　Jack　quietly。　　〃You　won't　blow　up　now；　will　you？　　You　have　been　so　splendid！　　Can　you　hold　on？〃

She　drew　a　deep　breath；　stood　for　a　minute　or　two　in　perfect　silence；　and　then　she　said；　〃I　can　and　I　will。　　I　am　quite　right　now。〃

Of　course　they　exclaimed　and　stared　and　even　wept　a　bitat　least　the　ladies　didbut　Jack's　pipe　helped　out　amazingly；　and；　indeed；　he　had　recovered　sufficient　strength　to　walk　unhelped　to　the　car。　And　while　Tom　sent　the　Packard　humming　along　the　smooth；　resilient　road　he　kept　up　with　Nora　and　his　sister　a　rapid　fire　of　breezy　conversation　till　they　reached　their　own　door。　　It　was　half　an　hour　before　Tom　could　bring　the　doctor；　during　which　time　they　discussed　the　accident　in　all　its　bearings　and　from　every　point　of　view。

〃I　am　glad　it　was　not　I　who　was　with　you；〃　declared　Nora。　　〃I　cannot　stand　blood；　and　I　certainly　should　have　fainted；　and　what　would　you　have　done　then？〃

〃Not　you；〃　declared　Jack。　　〃That　sort　of　thing　does　not　go　with　your　stock。　　God　knows　what　would　have　happened　to　me　if　I　had　had　a　silly　fool　with　me；　for　the　blood　was　pumping　out　all　over　me。　But；　thank　God；　I　had　a　woman　with　a　brave　heart　and　clever　hands。〃

When　the　doctor　came；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　went　in　to　assist　him；　but　when　the　ghastly　bloody　spectacle　lay　bare　to　her　eyes　she　found　herself　grow　weak　and　hurried　to　the　kitchen　where　the　others　were。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　silly；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　am　afraid　I　cannot　stand　the　sight　of　it。〃

Kathleen　sprang　at　once　to　her　feet。　　〃Is　there　no　one　there？〃　she　demanded　with　a　touch　of　impatience　in　her　voice；　and　passed　quickly　into　the　room；　where　she　stayed　while　the　doctor　snipped　off　the　frayed　patches　of　skin　and　flesh　and　tied　up　the　broken　arteries；　giving　aid　with　quick　fingers　and　steady　hands　till　all　was　over。

〃You　have　done　this　sort　of　thing　before；　Miss　Gwynne？〃　said　the　doctor。

〃No；　never；〃　she　replied。

〃Well；　you　certainly　are　a　brick；〃　he　said；　turning　admiring　eyes　upon　her。　　He　was　a　young　man　and　unmarried。　　〃But　this　is　a　little　too　much　for　you。〃　　From　a　decanter　which　stood　on　a　side　table　he　poured　out　a　little　spirits。　　〃Drink　this；〃　he　said。

〃No；　thank　you；　Doctor；　I　am　quite　right；〃　said　Kathleen；　quietly　picking　up　the　bloody　debris　and　dropping　them　into　a　basin　which　she　carried　into　the　other　room。　　〃He　is　all　right　now；〃　she　said　to　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　who　took　the　basin　from　her；　exclaiming；

〃My　poor　dear；　you　are　awfully　white。　　I　am　ashamed　of　myself。　　Now　you　must　lie　down　at　once。〃

〃No；　please；　I　shall　go　home；　I　think。　　Where　is　Nora？〃

〃Nora　has　gone　home。　　You　won't　lie　down　a　little？　　Then　Tom　shall　take　you　in　the　car。　　You　are　perfectly　splendid。　　I　did　not　think　you　had　it　in　you。〃

〃Oh；　don't；　don't；〃　cried　the　girl；　a　quick　rush　of　tears　coming　to　her　eyes。　　〃I　must　go；　I　must　go。　　Oh；　I　feel　terrible。　　I　don't　know　what　I　have　done。　　Let　me　go　home。〃　　She　almost　pushed　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　from　her　and　went　out　of　the　house　and　found　Tom　standing　by　the　car　smoking。

〃Take　her　home；　Tom；〃　said　his　wife。　　〃She　needs　rest。〃

〃Come　along；　Kathleen；　restwell；　rather。　　Get　in　beside　me　here。　Feel　rather　rotten；　eh；　what？　　Fine　bit　of　work；　good　soldierno；　don't　talkmonologue　indicated。〃　　And　monologue　it　was　till　he　delivered　her；　pale；　weary　and　spent；　to　her　mother。



CHAPTER　XIV

AN　EXTRAORDINARY　NURSE


〃A　letter　for　you；　Nora；〃　said　Larry；　coming　just　in　from　the　post　office。

〃From　Jane！〃　cried　Nora；　tearing　open　the　letter。　　〃Oh；　glory；〃　she　continued。　　〃They　are　coming。　　Let's　see；　written　on　the　ninth；　leaving　to…morrow　and　arrive　at　Melville　Station　on　the　twelfth。　Why；　that's　tomorrow。〃

〃Who；　Nora？〃　said　Larry。　　〃Jane？〃

〃Yes；　Jane　and　her　father。　　She　says；　'We　mean　to　stay　two　or　three　days；　if　you　can　have　us；　on　our　way　to　Banff。'〃

〃Hurrah！　　Good　old　Jane！　　What　train　did　you　say？〃　cried　Larry。

〃Sixteen…forty…five　to…morrow　at　Melville　Station。〃

〃'We'll　have　one　trunk　and　two　boxes；　so　you　will　need　some　sort　of　rig；　I　am　afraid。　　I　hope　this　will　not　be　too　much　trouble。'〃

〃Isn't　that　just　like　Jane？〃　said　Larry。　　〃I　bet　you　she　gives　the　size　of　the　trunk；　doesn't　she；　Nora？〃

〃A　steamer　trunk　and　pretty　heavy；　she　says。〃

〃Same　old　girl。　　Does　she　give　you　the　colour？〃　inquired　Larry。　〃Like　an　old　maid；　she　is。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Nora；　closing　up　her　letter。　　〃Oh；　it's　splendid。　Let's　see；　it　is　eight　years　since　we　saw　her。〃

〃Just　about　fifteen　months　since　I　saw　her；〃　said　Larry。

〃And　about　four　months　for　me；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃But　eight　years　for　me；〃　cried　Nora；　〃and　she　has　never　missed　writing　me　every　week；　except　once　when　she　had　the　mumps；　and　she　made　her　father　write　that　week。　　Now　we　shall　have　to　take　our　old　democrat　to　meet　her；　the　awful　old　thing；〃　said　Nora　in　a　tone　of　disgust。

〃Jane　won't　mind　if　it　is　a　hayrack；〃　said　Larry。

〃No；　but　her　father。　　He's　such　a　swell。　　I　hate　meeting　him　with　that　old　bone　cart。　　But　we　can't　help　it。　　Oh；　I　am　just　nutty　over　her　coming。　　I　wonder　what　she's　like？〃

〃Why；　she's　the　same　old　Jane；〃　said　Larry。　　〃That's　one　immense　satisfaction　about　her。　　She　is　always　the　same；　no　matter　when；　how　or　where　you　meet　her。　　There's　never　a　change　in　Jane。〃

〃I　wonder　if　she　has　improvedgot　any　prettier；　I　mean。〃

〃Prettier！　　What　the　deuce　are　you　talking　about？〃　said　Larry　indignantly。　　〃Prettier！　　Like　a　girl　that　is！　　You　never　think　of　looks　when　you　see　Jane。　　All　you　see　is　just　Jane　and　her　big　blue　eyes　and　her　smile。　　Prettier！　　Who　wants　her　prettier？〃

〃Oh；　all　right；　Larry。　　Don't　fuss。　　She　IS　plain…looking；　you　know。　　But　she　is　such　a　good　sort。　　I　must　tell　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt。〃

〃Do；〃　said　Larry；　〃and　be　sure　to　ask　her　for　her　car。〃

Nora　made　a　face　at　him；　but　ran　to　the　'phone　and　in　an　ecstatic　jumble　of　words　conveyed　the　tremendous　news　to　the　lady　at　the　other　end　of　the　wire　and　to　all　the　ears　that　might　be　open　along　the　party　line。

〃Is　that　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt？it's　Nora　speaking。　　I　have　the　most　glorious　news　for　you。　　Jane　is　coming！You　don't　know　Jane？　　My　friend；　you　know；　in　Winnipeg。　　You　must　have　often　heard　me　speak　of　her。What？Brown。No；　Brown；　B…r…o…w…n。　　And　she's　coming　to…　morrow。No；　her　father　is　with　her。Yes；　Dr。　Brown　of　Winnipeg。　Oh；　yes。　　Isn't　it　splendid？Three　days　only；　far　too　short。　　And　we　meet　her　to…morrow。I　beg　your　pardon？Sixteen…forty…five；　she　says；　and　she　is　always　right。　　Oh；　a　change　in　the　time　table　is　there？Yes；　I　will　hold　on。Sixteen…forty…five；　I　might　have　known。What　do　you　say？Oh；　could　you？　　Oh；　dear　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt；　how　perfectly　splendid　of　you！　　But　are　you　sure　you　can？　Oh；　you　are　just　lovely。Yes；　she　has　one　trunk；　but　that　can　come　in　the　democrat。　　Oh；　that　is　perfectly　lovely！　　Thank　you　so　much。　Good…bye。What？　　Yes；　oh；　yes；　certainly　I　must　go。Will　there　be　room　for　him？　　I　am　sure　he　will　love　to　go。　　That　will　make　five；　you　know；　and　they　have　two　bags。　　Oh；　lovely；　you　are　awfully　good。We　shall　need　to　start　about　fifteen　o'clock。　　Good…bye。　Oh；　how　is　Mr。　Romayne？Oh；　I　am　so　sorry；　it　is　too　bad。　　But；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　you　know　Dr。　Brown　is　a　splendid　doctor；　the　best　in　Winnipeg；　one　of　the　best　in　Canada。　　He　will　tell　you　exactly　what　to　do。I　beg　your　pardon？Yes；　she's　here。　Kathleen；　you　are　wanted。　　Hurry　up；　don't　keep　her　waiting。　　Oh；　isn't　she　a　dear？〃

〃What　does　she　want　of　me？〃　said　Kathleen；　a　flush　coming　to　her　cheek。

〃Come　and　see；〃　said　Nora；　covering　the　transmitter　with　her　hand；　〃and　don't　keep　her　waiting。　　What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

Reluctantly　Kathleen　placed　the　receiver　to　her　ear。　　〃Yes；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　it　is　Kathleen　speaking。Yes；　thank　you；　quite　well。Oh；　I　have　been　quite　all　right；　a　little　shaken　perhaps。　Yes；　isn't　it　splendid？　　Nora　is　quite　wild；　you　know。　　Jane　is　her　dearest　friend　and　she　has　not　seen　her　since　we　were　children；　but　they　have　kept　up　a　most　active　correspondence。　　Of　course；　I　saw　a　great　deal　of　her　last　year。　　She　is　a　splendid　girl　and　they　were　so　kind；　their　house　was　like　a　home　to　me。　　I　am　sure　it　is　very　kind　of　you　to　offer　to　meet　them。I　beg　your　pardon？Oh；　I　am　so　sorry　to　hear　that。　　We　thought　he　was　doing　so　well。　　What　brought　that　on？Blood…poisoning！Oh；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　you　don't　say　so？　　How　terrible！　　Isn't　it　good　that　Dr。　Brown　is　coming？　　He　will　know　exactly　what　is　wrong。Oh；　I　am　so　sorry　to　hear　that。　Sleeplessness　is　so　trying。YesYesOh；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　I　am　afraid　I　couldn't　do　that。〃　　Kathleen's　face　had　flushed　bright　crimson。　　〃But　I　am　sure　Mother　would　be　so　glad　to　go；　and　she　is　a　perfectly　wonderful　nurse。　　She　knows　just　what　to　do。Oh；　I　am　afraid　not。　　Wait；　please；　a　moment。〃

〃What　does　she　want？〃　asked　Nora。

Kathleen　covered　the　transmitter　with　her　hand。　　〃She　wants　me　to　go　and　sit　with　Mr。　Romayne　while　she　drives　you　to　the　station。　　I　cannot；　I　cannot　do　that。　　Where　is　Mother？　　Oh；　Mother；　I　cannot　go　to　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt's。　　I　really　cannot。〃

〃What　nonsense；　Kathleen！〃　cried　Nora　impatiently。　　〃Why　can't　you　go；　pray？　　Let　me　speak　to　her。〃　　She　took　the　receiver　from　her　sister's　hand。　　〃Yes；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　it　is　Nora。I　beg　your　pardon？Oh；　yes；　c