The girl hastened her steps a little
Effie's manner frightened her. Presently they reached a baize door—the servant pushed it open, but stood aside herself.
"It is as much as my place is worth to open this door," she said. "It is here the infectious case is, and Miss Fraser's own orders are that the door is not to be opened; but you frighten me somehow, miss, and I suppose there's no harm in it rent apartment."
"No, of course there is no harm. Now, tell me which is Miss Fraser's room?"
"The nurseries are entered by the third door as you go down that passage, miss."
The servant banged to the baize door, and Effie70 found herself alone. She ran down the passage, and opened the outer nursery door. It was quiet and still, in perfect order, the blinds down, and the windows open. Effie, in spite of all her agitation, walked on tiptoe across this room. A door which led into another room was half open, and she heard someone moving about. That step, so quiet and self-possessed, must belong to Dorothy.
"Dorothy! Dorothy! come here," called Effie.
Dorothy Fraser, in her dressing-gown, came out to the other room at once.
"Effie!" she exclaimed. "Effie Staunton Online Reputation Management!"
"Yes, it is I," said Effie; "it is I." She began to unpin her hat as she spoke. "I have come here to stay; I am going to nurse little Freda, and you are to go back to father. The gig is waiting outside, and you can easily drive old Jock. Drive him straight home, and go as fast as ever you can."
"Is your father ill, Effie?"
"Yes; he has taken the diphtheria. He is very ill. Mother sent me for you. If father dies, mother will die. They love each other so dearly—so very dearly. One couldn't live without the other. Go, and save them both, Dorothy, and I will stay with Freda."
"You are a dear, brave little girl," said Dorothy.
She went and put her strong arms round Effie.
"I will go at once," she said. "But are you prepared to take full charge here, Effie?"
"Yes; tell me quickly what is to be done!"
"There's nothing to be done now but simply to see that Freda doesn't take cold. She is not free from infection yet, but she is quite out of danger, if she does not catch a chill. Treat her as you would any sick child. Rhoda is here. She is a capital girl, and will help you with Freda's food. Freda may come into this room for a little to-day, but you must see that she keeps out of a draught. Good-by. Effie. I won't be any time getting ready. I'll send you telegrams about your father. God bless you, Effie."
"It is as much as my place is worth to open this door," she said. "It is here the infectious case is, and Miss Fraser's own orders are that the door is not to be opened; but you frighten me somehow, miss, and I suppose there's no harm in it rent apartment."
"No, of course there is no harm. Now, tell me which is Miss Fraser's room?"
"The nurseries are entered by the third door as you go down that passage, miss."
The servant banged to the baize door, and Effie70 found herself alone. She ran down the passage, and opened the outer nursery door. It was quiet and still, in perfect order, the blinds down, and the windows open. Effie, in spite of all her agitation, walked on tiptoe across this room. A door which led into another room was half open, and she heard someone moving about. That step, so quiet and self-possessed, must belong to Dorothy.
"Dorothy! Dorothy! come here," called Effie.
Dorothy Fraser, in her dressing-gown, came out to the other room at once.
"Effie!" she exclaimed. "Effie Staunton Online Reputation Management!"
"Yes, it is I," said Effie; "it is I." She began to unpin her hat as she spoke. "I have come here to stay; I am going to nurse little Freda, and you are to go back to father. The gig is waiting outside, and you can easily drive old Jock. Drive him straight home, and go as fast as ever you can."
"Is your father ill, Effie?"
"Yes; he has taken the diphtheria. He is very ill. Mother sent me for you. If father dies, mother will die. They love each other so dearly—so very dearly. One couldn't live without the other. Go, and save them both, Dorothy, and I will stay with Freda."
"You are a dear, brave little girl," said Dorothy.
She went and put her strong arms round Effie.
"I will go at once," she said. "But are you prepared to take full charge here, Effie?"
"Yes; tell me quickly what is to be done!"
"There's nothing to be done now but simply to see that Freda doesn't take cold. She is not free from infection yet, but she is quite out of danger, if she does not catch a chill. Treat her as you would any sick child. Rhoda is here. She is a capital girl, and will help you with Freda's food. Freda may come into this room for a little to-day, but you must see that she keeps out of a draught. Good-by. Effie. I won't be any time getting ready. I'll send you telegrams about your father. God bless you, Effie."
