"Delight will," said Mrs. Spencer, in a hopeless tone. "She's so delicate, and so subject to throat affections. Oh, how can I stand all this without any one to help me? Can't I have a trained nurse?"
Doctor Mendel almost laughed at the lady's request.
"Of course you may, as soon as there's a patient for her to take care of. But you surely don't want one when there's no illness in this part of the house."
"Why, so there isn't!" said Mrs. Spencer, looking greatly relieved. "I'm so bewildered I felt that these two children were already down with diphtheria."
"It's a very trying situation," went on Doctor Mendel, looking kindly at Mrs. Spencer. "For I do not see how your husband can come home, if he wants to continue at his business. And surely, there's no use of his coming home, so long as there's no illness in your immediate family. He would better stay in New York."
"Oh, not in New York," cried Mrs. Spencer. "He can come to Rockwell every night, and stay at the hotel or some place."
"Yes, that would be better; then you can telephone often."
"And I can telephone to Mother!" said Midget, who was beginning to see a brighter side.
"Yes, of course," agreed the doctor. "I'll go there, and tell her all about it."
"Yes, I fancy she will! Do you want her to send you some clothes?"
"Why, yes; I s'pose so. I never thought of that! Oh, I'd rather go home!"
The bright side suddenly faded, and Midget's curly head went down in her arm, and she shook with sobs. A vision of home, and the dear family around the dinner-table, while she was exiled in a strange house, was too much for her.
"Now, Marjorie," said the doctor, "you must bear this bravely. It is hard, I know, but Mrs. Spencer is by far the greatest sufferer. Here she is, with two children to look after, and her husband shut out from his home, and her servants in a state of unreasoning terror. I think you two girls should brace up, and help Mrs. Spencer all you can."
"I think so, t-too," said Midget, in a voice still choking with tears, and then Delight began to cry.
Her crying wasn't a sudden outburst like Marjorie's, but a permanent sort of affair, which she pursued diligently and without cessation.
Mrs. Spencer paid little attention to the two weeping children, for the poor lady had other responsibilities that required her attention.