The Gilded Age by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner

were all distracted in a moment–everybody was flying everywhere, and

nobody doing anything worth anything. By and by I flung out next door

and dragged in Dr. Sprague; President of the Medical University no time

to go for our own doctor of course–and the minute he saw Francois he

said, ‘Send for your own physician, madam;’ said it as cross as a bear,

too, and turned right on his heel, and cleared out without doing a

thing!”

Everybody–“The mean, contemptible brute!”

Mrs. O–“Well you may say it. I was nearly out of my wits by this time.

But we hurried off the servants after our own doctor and telegraphed

mother–she was in New York and rushed down on the first train; and when

the doctor got there, lo and behold you he found Francois had broke one

of his legs, too!”

Everybody–“Goodness!”

Mrs. O.–“Yes. So he set his leg and bandaged it up, and fixed his ribs

and gave him a dose of something to quiet down his excitement and put him

to sleep–poor thing he was trembling and frightened to death and it was

pitiful to see him. We had him in my bed–Mr. Oreille slept in the guest

room and I laid down beside Francois–but not to sleep bless you no.

Bridget and I set up all night, and the doctor staid till two in the

morning, bless his old heart.–When mother got there she was so used up

with anxiety, that she had to go to bed and have the doctor; but when she

found that Francois was not in immediate danger she rallied, and by night

she was able to take a watch herself. Well for three days and nights we

three never left that bedside only to take an hour’s nap at a time.

And then the doctor said Francois was out of danger and if ever there was

a thankful set, in this world, it was us.”

Laura’s respect for these, women had augmented during this conversation,

naturally enough; affection and devotion are qualities that are able to

adorn and render beautiful a character that is otherwise unattractive,

and even repulsive.

Mrs. Gashly–“I do believe I would a died if I had been in your place,

Mrs. Oreille. The time Hildebrand was so low with the pneumonia Emmeline

and me were all, alone with him most of the time and we never took a

minute’s sleep for as much as two days, and nights. It was at Newport

and we wouldn’t trust hired nurses. One afternoon he had a fit, and

jumped up and run out on the portico of the hotel with nothing in the

world on and the wind a blowing liken ice and we after him scared to

death; and when the ladies and gentlemen saw that he had a fit, every

lady scattered for her room and not a gentleman lifted his hand to help,

the wretches! Well after that his life hung by a thread for as much as

ten days, and the minute he was out of danger Emmeline and me just went

to bed sick and worn out. I never want to pass through such a time

again. Poor dear Francois–which leg did he break, Mrs. Oreille!”

Mrs. O.–“It was his right hand hind leg. Jump down, Francois dear, and

show the ladies what a cruel limp you’ve got yet.”

Francois demurred, but being coaxed and delivered gently upon the floor,

he performed very satisfactorily, with his “right hand hind leg” in the

air. All were affected–even Laura–but hers was an affection of the

stomach. The country-bred girl had not suspected that the little whining

ten-ounce black and tan reptile, clad in a red embroidered pigmy blanket

and reposing in Mrs. Oreille’s lap all through the visit was the

individual whose sufferings had been stirring the dormant generosities of

her nature. She said:

“Poor little creature! You might have lost him!”

Mrs. O.–” O pray don’t mention it, Miss Hawkins–it gives me such a

turn!”

Laura–“And Hildebrand and Percy–are they-are they like this one?”

Mrs. G.–“No, Hilly has considerable Skye blood in him, I believe.”

Mrs. H.–“Percy’s the same, only he is two months and ten days older and

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