That horrid, teasing cough of Dick's got worse and worse, and by evening
he was lying patiently in his crib, with a steaming kettle singing into
the little tent of blankets that enveloped it, and a very large and very
hot linseed poultice on his chest. Susie, sitting down below, could hear
the hasty footsteps and the hoarse, croaking sound that always filled her
with panic. Their tea was brought to them by the overworked maid, and she
and Tom ate it in a depressed silence, and then sat again on the
window-sill looking silently and miserably out to sea. By-and-by nurse
came in hurriedly, with the news that baby was crying and had to be
attended to, and that she and Tom must manage to put themselves to bed.
"I haven't time to brush your hair," nurse said regretfully; and Susie's
face lightened.
"Nurse, is Dick better?" she asked breathlessly.
"He's about as bad as I've ever seen him," nurse said shortly, and turned
to leave the room; but Susie clung desperately to her skirt.
"Don't go, nurse. Let me do something--let me hold baby."
"No, indeed, Miss Susie," said nurse; "you've done mischief enough
already. Go to bed quietly, and try to get up right foot foremost
to-morrow."
Susie went back to the window-sill, and huddled up close to Tom. With
blank eyes she looked at the stars and the moon bursting from behind
hurrying clouds. Even when she put her fingers into her ears that rasping
cough pursued her. Tom's heavy head fell against her, and she knew he
ought to be in bed; but it wanted really desperate courage to shake him
into consciousness and get him up somehow to his room.
And upstairs, next to Tom's little bed, was an empty space, from which a
crib had been hastily wheeled into the next room. On the floor beside it
lay a vest and knickerbockers, still heavy with sea water, and a red tin
pail and spade. It made Susie sick to look at them. But she got Tom at
last into his bed, and covered him up. He tried to say his prayers, but
he was too sleepy; and Susie hushed him at last, and crept away to her
own little room in the dark.
Amy was so soundly asleep that she did not even turn; but Susie could not
rest. All through the miserable hours she sat straight up in bed, looking
before her with staring eyes, and listening to the uneasy movements next
door.
It was almost morning when Amy woke at last and turned her startled gaze
on Susie's face, but what she read there drove her out of her own bed and
on to Susie's. Then she stretched out two comforting little arms and held
her close.
"Don't, Susie, don't," she said breathlessly; "it wasn't your fault."
"Yes, it was," said Susie harshly.
Amy rubbed her rosy cheek against Susie's sleeve, and at the touch
Susie's frozen heart melted. Tears came and sobs, till the sheet was wet,
and she could only speak in gasps.
"Mother _trusted_ me! I am going to mother, Amy. I can't bear it any
more. If Dick dies, it is me that did it. I was the only one who knew."
"Let me get your shoes," said Amy.
But Susie would not wait. She slipped out of bed on to the cold boards--a
small, miserable figure, disfigured with crying--whilst Amy watched her
breathlessly. She opened the door and listened. Every one seemed to be
asleep, except that in the room next door she heard hushed voices and the
tread of careful feet, then the rattle of a cup and Dick's cough. She
opened the door as gently as she could and looked in. The blind was up
and a fire burning. The tent of blankets had been pulled down, and Dick,
with the poultice still on his chest, was sitting up in bed, wrapped in
a soft red shawl. By the table stood nurse, making tea; and his mother,
looking pale and tired, was sitting by the crib. She looked up when the
door opened, and without a word held out her arms.
Susie fairly tumbled into them.
"O mother," she kept repeating, as if nothing more would come.
"_Susie!_" said mother.
"Oh, I have been awake all night!" Susie panted out the words. "If he had
died it would have been my fault. Mother, is he getting well?"
"My darling Susie," said mother, "I had not time to come to you. I never
dreamt you were awake. Dick is _much_ better; but he has been very bad,
and he must go to sleep."
"Mother, let me tell you! I am so _wicked_. _I felt sure_ they would not
be really naughty; I_ felt certain--_"
"Susie," said mother faintly, "_I_ must go to sleep too. Some other time
we will talk it over, but not now."
"But I can't sleep," said Susie, "unless I tell you first."
"Come, Susie, try. I am sure it would be a great comfort to make excuses;
but, just for once, choose the harder part, and say nothing. You and I,
Susie, must get our beauty-sleep."
She stroked the flaxen pigtail and gently unloosed Susie's clinging
hands.
"Come, let me tuck you in," she said.
"Nurse is going to stay with Dick. Susie, I am very, very tired."
Susie's sobs ceased suddenly, and she stood up straight. It was the
hardest battle she had ever fought, but she was never one for half
measures. In perfect silence she allowed her mother to lead her away and
tuck her comfortably into the little bed, where Amy patiently waited for
her, and then, still silently, she put her two arms round her mother and
hugged her.
"Oh, thank you, Susie," mother said gratefully.