Doctor Luttrells First Patient | Page 9

nodded and vanished, she shook her head a
little sadly. "Olive dear, it won't pay; you are not the sort of person who

can safely starve. I thought there was something wrong about you when
you came in; you had a peaky, under-fed look. Oh, I thought so!" as the
tears rose to Olivia's eyes. "Now, I am not going to say another word
until you have had your tea. Look at Zoe; she thinks you are in trouble
about something, and wants to lick your face. Is not the sympathy of a
dumb creature touching? They don't understand what is wrong, but they
see plainly that their human friend is unhappy. Come to me, Zoe, and I
will explain matters. It is not much of a trouble. Olive is not really
miserable; she is only cold and hungry and weak, and wants petting and
cosseting."
"I think I am rather unhappy, Aunt Madge," returned Olivia, in a sad
voice. "Things are getting worse, and Marcus looks so careworn; he
was talking in his sleep last night. We have so little money left--only
just enough for six months' rent and the coals, and ever so little for
housekeeping, and no patients come, and now I have made up my mind
to tell him to-night that Martha must go."
"My dear Olivia, we talked that over a few weeks ago, and we decided
then that you had better keep her."
"Yes, Aunt Madge, I know; but indeed, indeed we cannot afford her
food--these growing girls must be properly fed, and the amount of
bread and butter she eats would astonish Deb----" and here Olivia
heaved a harassed sigh.
"Well, well, we will talk it over again"--and then Deb brought in the
tea-things, and the scones, and the new-laid eggs, and as Mrs.
Broderick sipped her tea it did her kind heart good to see how her niece
enjoyed the good things before her.
"There now, you feel ever so much better," she said, when the meal
was finished. "Now we can talk comfortably. I have been thinking over
what you have said, and I suppose you are right from your point of
view, and that if you cannot afford Martha's food she must go, but I
have been thinking of Marcus. He is at the turning-point of his career.
Everything depends on his making a practice. When patients send for
him, and they will send for him by-and-by, do you think it will look

well for his wife to open the door to them."
"But, Aunt Madge----"
"Olive, you were always a good, honest little girl, and you have grown
up an honest woman; you want to do your duty and slave for Marcus
and Dot, and you have begun nobly by starving yourself until you are
on the verge of an hysterical attack, but we must think of Marcus.
Martha must not go, at least, not until the winter is over. I have been
saving a few pounds for your Christmas present I meant you to have
had a new dress and jacket, and a few other little things you needed; but
if you like to pay Martha's wages with it until Easter you can please
yourself--only take it and say no more--what, crying again! What
nonsense, as though I may not give my own niece a little present."
"It is the goodness and the kindness," returned Olivia, with a low sob.
"Aunt Madge, why are you so good to me? You have saved all this, and
you have so little to spare--as though I do not know what a small
income you really have."
"It is a very respectable income, and my dear Fergus worked hard to
make it. I never professed to be a rich woman, but I have everything I
want. If people would only cut their coat by their cloth, as Fergus used
to say, there would be less distress in the world; well, my wants are few;
I have no milliner's bills;" here there was a gleam of fun in the invalid's
eyes. "No smart bonnets or fashionable mantles needed at this
establishment; only just a cosy tea-gown now and then when the old
one is too shabby. Come, Olive, are you not going to count your
money?" And then Olivia emptied the contents of the little purse on her
lap.
"Well?" as the slim fingers sorted the gold and silver; "will there be
enough for Martha's wages until Easter?"
"Yes, indeed, Aunt Madge, and there will be some over. I can buy the
stuff for baby's winter pelisse without troubling Marcus, and do you
know," knitting her brows in careful calculation, "I do believe that with
a little contrivance and management I can get some new trimming for

my Sunday hat, and a pair of chevrette gloves;