Sister Agnes had made many friends amongst her patients at St Bernard's, and many of them and their relatives came to see her at her new home, and sought her advice in their troubles and difficulties. Her great experience and ability enabled her to penetrate to the bottom of many a little mystery. She often wondered how she could so long have been cognisant of the things that took place and had not sooner rebelled. Often a husband or wife who was a patient at the old place would write home, and the letters would be brought to her for her opinion. A poor carman at the docks one day brought her a letter which his wife had sent him the previous day. The poor man did not know what to make of it. His wife had gone to the hospital merely on account of loss of appetite and strength, and the doctors, after "overhauling her like a barge as was in dry dock," as he expressed it, had come to the conclusion that she had a tumour "somewhere internal," and if she did not have it taken out she would soon die.
"In course, Mum," said he, "the doctors ought to know best; but my belief all along is they be nothing but practisin' on her."
Then he gave the Sister the letter his wife had sent him; which was expressed in Mrs. Stubbins' forcible vernacular. The dialect of a denizen of the London slums abounds in idioms, which were intelligible enough to Sister Agnes from long acquaintance, but she could not help smiling as she read the poor woman's epistle.
"I write these few lines for to let you now how I am gettin along in this plaice. I have bean hear six weaks to-morrer, which is little Jemmie's birfday. I ain't undergond the hoperation as I cum for yet, bekos the doctor says my sistem ain't reddy fur to stand it yet. My patients is allmost gon, Jack, with waitin in suspends so long. Sumtimes I begin to think as the doctors ain't acting straight with me. They makes a dredful hurtin examinashun everry morning with more'n a dozzun yung stoodents a-lookin on, which ain't proper in my opinyun, and they talks a lot of Latin and says it is a verry pretty case. One feller sed it was you-neek or somethin of that sort, and Doctor Stanforth would be back in a fortnit and must see it. As for phizzik I swer I ain't had a drop of anythink but pepermint water sins in this plaice I've bin; but I've bin pulld about shameful, as ain't fit for no respectful marrid woman, for what objek I can't for the life on me see. Now, Jack, do mind and keep Lizzie at her scholin, and don't let Billy and Polly run wild in the streets. I don't like meself at all in this plaice, and ef the tumour aint sune tuk out I shall bunk it, so I tell yer strayt. I wish you'd ask Dr. Phelps what thear littel gaim is hear. I beleaf I am only kep as a speciment, bekos my cais is curous; anyhow, I ain't a-bein dun no good to, and they'll find I'm sloped afore long. 2 on em in saim ward as me bunked it last week.