XVIII

ywe'regettingonatthecottage,"shesaidtakingTussie'sleanhothand,theshellofhersmileremainingbuttheheartandsubstancegoneoutofit,helookedsopitifulandstrange. "Really?Really?"chokedTussie,puttingtheotherleanhothandoverhersandburningallthecoolnessoutofit. Thenurselookedstillmoredisapproving.ShehadnotheardSirAugustushadafiancée,andevenifhehadthiswasnotimeforphilandering.ShetoohadnoticedthevoiceinwhichhehadsaidOhmother,andshesawbyhiseyesthathistemperaturehadgoneup.Whowasthisshabbyyounglady?Shefeltsurethatnoonesoshabbycouldbehisfiancée,andshecouldonlyconcludethatLadyShuttleworthmustbemad. "Nurse,I'mgoingtostayherealittle,"saidLadyShuttleworth."I'llcallyouwhenIwantyou." "Ithink,madam,SirAugustusoughtnot—"beganthenurse. "No,no,heshallnot.Goandhavefortywinks,nurse." AndthenursehadtogopeoplegenerallydidwhenLadyShuttleworthsentthem. "Sitdown—nodon't—stayamomentlikethis,"saidTussie,hisbreathcominginlittlejerks,—"unlessyouaretired?Didyouwalk?" "I'mafraidyouareveryill,"saidPriscilla,leavingherhandinhisandlookingdownathimwithafacethatallhereffortscouldnotinducetosmile. "OhI'llbeallrightsoon.Howgoodofyoutocome.You'venotbeenhungrysince?" "No,no,"saidPriscilla,strokinghishandswithherfreehandandgivingthemsoothingpatsasonewouldtoasickchild. "Reallynot?I'vethoughtofthateversince.I'venevergotyourfacethatnightoutofmyhead.Whathadhappened?WhileIwasaway—whathadhappened?" "Nothing—nothinghadhappened,"saidPriscillahastily."Iwastired.Ihadamood.Igetthem,youknow.Igetangryeasily.ThenIliketobealonetillI'msorry." "Butwhathadmadeyouangry?HadI—?" "No,never.Youhaveneverbeenanythingbutgoodandkind.You'vebeenourprotectingspiritsincewecamehere." Tussielaughedshrilly,andimmediatelywasseizedbyacoughingfit.LadyShuttleworthstoodatthefootofthebedwatchinghimwithafacefromwhichhappinessseemedtohavefledforever.Priscillagrewmoreandmorewretched,caught,obligedtostandthere,distractedlystrokinghishandsinherutterinabilitytothinkofanythingelsetodo. "Aniceprotectingspirit,"gaspedTussiederisively,whenhecouldspeak."Lookatmehere,tieddowntothisbedforheavenknowshowlong,andnotabletodoathingforyou." "Butthere'snothingnowtodo.We'requitecomfortable.Wearereally.Do,dobelieveit." "Areyouonlycomfortable,orareyouhappyaswell?" "Oh,we'reveryhappy,"saidPriscillawithalltheemphasisshecouldgetintohervoiceandagainshetried,quiteunsuccessfully,towrenchhermouthintoasmile. "Then,ifyou'rehappy,whydoyoulooksomiserable?" Hewasgazingupintoherfacewitheyeswhosepiercingbrightnesswouldhavefrightenedthenurse.TherewasnoshynessnowaboutTussie.Thereneverisaboutpersonswhosetemperatureis102. "Miserable?"repeatedPriscilla.ShetriedtosmilelookedhelplesslyatLadyShuttleworthlookeddownagainatTussieandstammering"Becauseyouaresoillandit'sallmyfault,"toherhorror,toherboundlessindignationatherself,twotears,bigandnottobehidden,rolleddownherfaceanddroppedontoTussie'sandherclaspedhands. Tussiestruggledtositupstraight."Look,mother,look—"hecried,gasping,"mybeautifulone—mydearandlovelyone—mydarling—she'scrying—I'vemadehercry—nownevertellmeI'mnotabruteagain—see,seewhatI'vedone!" "Oh"—murmuredPriscilla,ingreatdistressandamazement.Wasthepoordeardelirious?And