back to her. Don't talk to me of
dinner; I could not eat. Is it really evening? Oh, now I remember
everything--at last I remember! We have been in agony. We have lived
through such a week. We have been down in the depths, truly. Yes, yes, I
recollect it all--my little child, my only little child, my darling, my
treasure! Oh, nurse, you should not have allowed me to sleep on all day,
you should have called me; she may have been wanting me. But you say she
is better--better; but perhaps Dr. Staunton--oh, I am frightened! Are
you keeping anything from me? Oh, my head, my poor head! I shall go
mad; I shall lose my senses."

"No, dear Mrs. Harvey," said Dorothy; "I have good news for you, not
bad. Freda is really better--she is less feverish, and her throat does
not hurt her so badly. I don't pretend that she is yet out of danger,
but if she continues to improve as she has done during the last seven or
eight hours, she will be out of danger before long. Now I want you to
take care of yourself and to trust your child to me."

"Oh, I cannot give the child up to anyone. You must not keep me from her
another moment. I am not a bit hungry, but I'll have something to eat in
her room if you'll bring it to me. How awfully my darling must have
missed me!--she is such a child for her mother. Let me go to her at
once--my dear little treasure!"

"Dr. Staunton is very anxious that you should not go to her to-night."

"How can he dare to keep a mother from her child? Here, give me my
dress, will you? I tell you that nothing will keep me from the room. I
am sure you are deceiving me."

"Do you really think I would deceive you?" said Dorothy. "Before you
went to sleep you promised to trust me. Look at me now--look into my
eyes. I have nursed a great many sick children--I have seen many mothers
in agony--I have never deceived one. When the truth was good I have told
it; when it was bad I have also told it. I am not deceiving you, Mrs.
Harvey."

Poor Mrs. Harvey's dazed and frightened eyes gazed into Dorothy's strong
face. Its repose, its calm, impressed her. She was in an overstrung and
highly hysterical state. She burst into tears.

"I do trust you, nurse," she said, with a great sob. "I trust you, and
I bless you. I know my dear little one is better. Oh, thank God; thank
the great and good God! But, dear nurse, I must go to her. You are
tired, and I am quite rested and refreshed. I'll spend the night with
the child, and you can go