t out of shape some way by a bad fall.
She's a fair dealin' woman or I wouldn't have staid with her all these
years. But Marilla isn't strong enough for the work, and the old Aunt
wants a good deal of waiting on. It's run up an' down until you'd
think her legs would just fall out."

Mrs. Seymour had been trying various restoratives. Now Marilla gave a
long shuddering sigh, opened her eyes but closed them again.

"What beautiful long lashes she has! And such silky hair--"

"Oh, the saints be praised! I began to think she was dead! Poor
darlint! 'Rilla dear--its Bridget who'd do anything in the world for
you."

Dr. Baker arrived. He entered the room, looked at Marilla, felt of her
pulse, and listened to the faint heart beats. "Give her a little
brandy," he said. "Where's Mrs. Borden? I thought the old lady--"

"Oh, she is!" interrupted Bridget, "she can't stir her legs one bit.
She's rale poorly, now I tell you, an' this child's been looking after
her as well as the babies."

"That's twice too much." He ran lightly up the stairs to meet with a
torrent of up-braidings.

"I thought I'd have to die here all alone! Where's Marilla? I've rung
and rung."

"The girl has been in a dead faint. She's worn out. And you must have
a regular nurse."

"Oh, dear!" Aunt Hetty began to cry, "couldn't I have her? 'Twouldn't
be as bad as them two young ones. And I'd pay her well, too. She's so
nice and good tempered with her face full of smiles and sunshine. Oh,
if she's going to be ill what shall we all do?"

The brandy revived Marilla a little. She tried to speak but her lips
felt stiff. They took her up carefully and laid her on the old lounge.
The babies started to climb up over her at once, and howled fearfully
when Bridget pulled them down with an ungentle shake and sat them on
the floor. Then she went to answer the door bell and ushered in Miss
Armitage.

Dr. Baker came down at the same moment. "Can't you shut those children
up in some dungeon? They've voices like a foghorn. Ah, Miss Armitage.
How is this patient?"

"Oh, I'm--better," raising up suddenly then falling back in a half
faint.

"Don't stir, keep as still as you can. You've no strength to throw
away on make believes. See here, babies," and he disgorged a paper of
peppermints that at once soothed broken hearts.

"When will Mrs. Borden return?"

"Well, she'll be home to dinner," and Bridget grinned. "Things were
all well enough when she went out. You see