Page:Cornelia Meigs--The Pool of Stars.djvu/169



HERE could be no doubt that Mr. Reynolds was very ill. A white-uniformed nurse was installed at the cottage, the doctor came daily, looking ever graver and graver, while there were worried wrinkles in Miss Miranda's forehead and she began to look very thin and white. Mrs. Bassett, the farmer's wife, coming over to pay her promised visit and finding her dear friend in such trouble, arranged hastily that some one else should take care of her own household and installed herself in the kitchen so that Miss Miranda should be free to wait upon her father. The old man lay, for the greater part of the time, in a dull stupor, waking only now and again to partial consciousness.

Elizabeth and David gave all the help that they could, but it seemed that there was little to be done. Many nights Betsey spent at the cottage when she guessed that Miss Miranda felt lonely and depressed, although her friend's cheerful spirit would never admit failing courage.

"He will be better to-morrow," she would keep saying when it was found impossible to declare that he was better to-day. 155