“Cap'n Baxter's in here, I s'pose. Shall I walk right in?”
The man of medicine seemed a little surprised at the lady's command of the situation, but he said:
“Why, yes, ma'am; I guess you may. You have nursed before, I think the Captain said.”
“Five years with my husband. He had slow consumption. Before that with my mother, and most of my brothers and sisters at one time or another. I've seen consid'rable sickness all my life. More of that than anything else, I guess. Now, if you'll come in with me, so's to tell me about the medicine and so on.”
With a short “Humph!” the physician followed her into the sick room, while the three mariners gazed wide-eyed in at the door. They watched, as Doctor Palmer explained medicines and gave directions. It did not need an expert to see that the new nurse understood her business.
When the Doctor came out his face shone with gratification.
“She'll do,” he said emphatically. “If all your relatives are like that, Cap'n Burgess, I'd like to know 'em; 'twould help me in my business.” Then he added in response to a question, “He seems to be a little better just now. I think there will be no change for a while; if there should be, send for me. I'll call in the morning. Gracious! it's almost daylight now.”
They saw him to the door and then came back upstairs. Mrs. Snow was busy, arranging the pillows, setting the room in something like order, and caring for her patient's garments, that had been tossed helter-skelter on the floor in the hurry of undressing. She came to the door as they entered Captain Eri's chamber.
“Mrs. Snow,” said the Captain, “you'd better sleep in my room here long's you stay. I'll bunk in with Perez downstairs. I'll git my dunnage out of here right off. I think likely you'll want to clean up some.”
The lady from Nantucket glanced at the bureau top and seemed about to say something, but checked herself. What she did say was:
“P'raps you'd better introduce me to Cap'n Burgess. I don't think we've ever met, if we ARE relations.”
Captain Eri actually blushed a little. “Why, of course,” he said. “Excuse me, ma'am. Jerry, this is Mrs. Snow. I don't know what's got into me, bein' so careless.”
The sacrifice shook the nurse's hand and said something, nobody knew exactly what. Mrs. Snow went on to say, “Now, I want you men to go right on to bed, for I know you're all tuckered out. We can talk to-morrow--I mean to-day, of course: I forgot 'twas next-door to daylight now. I shall set up with Cap'n Baxter, and if I need you I'll call you. I'll call you anyway when I think it's time. Good-night.”