Then, turning to the trembling nurse, she said harshly:
"Begone; I never wish to see your face again. Had it not been for
this lady, my child would have been killed through your carelessness.
Excuse me, Miss--Miss--"
"Miss Burton," said the young lady quietly.
"Excuse my show of feeling; but you can't realize the service you
have done us. Bertie is our only child, and we just idolize him.
I'm so agitated, I must go to my room."
When the lady had disappeared, Miss Burton turned to the sobbing
nurse and said:
"Will you promise me to be careful in the future if I intercede
for you?"
"Dade, Miss, an' I will."
"Come to me, then, after supper. In the mean time remain where
your mistress can summon you should she need your services, or be
inclined to forgive you of her own accord," and leaving the crude
and offending jumble of humanity much comforted, she returned to
the piazza again.
Of course many pressed around her with congratulations and words
of commendation. Van Berg was much interested in observing how
she would receive this sudden gush of mingled honest praise and
extravagant flattery, for he recognized that the occasion would
prove a searching and delicate test of character for which there
was no time to prepare.
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