The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard

Author:Linore Rose Burkard
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736947190
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

“Oh, Mrs. Mornay!” Mrs. Taller had now reached Ariana and started to sob. Ariana’s large eyes, filled with compassion, had broken a growing dam of tears inside the lady, and suddenly she was crying uncontrollably. Ariana put out her arms, and the woman fell into them, sobbing. In fact, she was not feeling well herself. All of the strain of worry, and tending her sick children, had resulted in an alarming measure of faintness. Mrs. Taller blinked, and tried to remember her mission, and that this was the mistress, and she stepped back.

“How can I help you, Mrs. Taller?”

Mrs. Forsythe, standing back a few feet out of politeness, was wondering the same thing.

“Oh, my lady!” she cried, forgetting that Ariana was not a “real” lady, “’tis my daughter! MaryAnn!” She had to suppress more sobs at this point.

“What has happened to MaryAnn?” Ariana asked, to prompt more of the story from her.

“I fear she’s dyin’! I give ’er the ’pothecary’s cure, but it ain’t done nothin’! She’s worse’n ever!”

“Tell me what happened to MaryAnn,” Ariana instructed.

“She’s got the fever! Three or four days, now! I’ve tried to nurse ’er through it, but she’s only got worse! Ah fear—ah fear she’s dyin’! Please say you’ll ’elp us, Mrs. Mornay! You’re me last ’ope!”

Mrs. Forsythe felt terrible, but she had to speak: “What can Mrs. Mornay do, madam? She is not God.”

“Come and look at ’er!” she cried. “Pray for my child, mistress, ah beg you!”

Ariana hesitated, not sure of what to do. Finally, she turned to her mother. “Mama, I pray you, go back to the house and see that Mr. Speckman is sent for at once. See that he comes directly to the Taller’s cottage!”

“Oh, bless you, mum!” the lady cried. “Bless y’er good ’eart!”

Mrs. Forsythe turned to do as she was bade, but there was something she did not like about the situation—only she could not think what it was. The doctor was needed and she must hurry back. But then it struck her, and she whirled back around. Her daughter had already gone a few yards, hurrying along beside Mrs. Taller.

“Ariana!” she called, loudly as she could. “Do not go to that gel! You may get sick!”

“I am not afraid of that, Mama!” She turned away.

“Ariana! The children! Your infant!”

This stopped Ariana in her tracks. She turned back around. When her gaze met her mother’s, the older woman nodded her head. Yes, you must think of your children! her eyes seemed to say. But Mrs. Taller pulled on her redingote. “Ahm beggin’ you, Mrs. Mornay! Ah jus’ know if you pray over’er, she’ll get better! Ahm sure of it!”

Ariana turned to the woman, and her face creased in regret. “Mrs. Taller, I will pray for MaryAnn, I promise you! But I cannot go with you to see her. I am sorry, ma’am, truly!”

Mrs. Taller fell silent and stared at Ariana for a long moment. Then, she lost her wits. She fell upon Ariana, crying and sobbing. “We’er goin’

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