Page 197 - A Little Bush Maid

stay all night; an’ your pa’s having his dinner, which he needs it, poor man.
An’ he don’t want you to get up, lovey, for there ain’t nothin’ you can do. T’ll

go and get you something to eat."

But it was Mr. Linton who came presently, bearing a tray with dainty
chicken and salad, and a glass of clear golden jelly. He sat by Norah while
she ate.

"We’re pretty anxious, dear," he told her, when she had finished, and was

snugly lying down again, astonishingly glad of her soft bed. "You won’t
mind my not staying. T must be near old Jim. T’ll be glad when Anderson’s
back. Try to go to sleep quickly." He bent to kiss her. "You don’t know

what a comfort your sleep has been to me, my girlie," he said.
"Good-night!"

Tt was the third day of the struggle with death over the Hermit’s
unconscious body, and again twilight was falling upon Billabong.

The house was hushed and silent. No footfall was allowed to sound where

the echo might penetrate to the sick-room. Near its precincts Mrs. Brown
and the Melbourne trained nurse reigned supreme, and Dr. Anderson came
and went as often as he could manage the fourteen-mile spin out from

Cunjee in his motor.

Norah had a new care-- a little fragile old lady, with snowy hair, and depths
of infinite sadness in her eyes, whom Dick Stephenson called "mother."
The doctor would not allow either mother or son into the sick-room--the

shock of recognition, should the Hermit regain consciousness suddenly,
might be too much. So they waited about, agonisingly anxious, pitifully

helpless. Dick rebelled against the idleness at length. Tt would kill him, he
said, and, borrowing a spade from the Chinese gardener, he spent his time
in heavy digging, within easy call of the house. But for the wife and mother

there was no help. She was gently courteous to all, gently appreciative of
Norah’s attempts to occupy her thoughts. But throughout it all--whether she

looked at the pets outside, or walked among the autumn roses in the garden,
or struggled to eat at the table--she was listening, ever listening.