Cornelius strained to find a pattern in the song until his head ached. I’m going mad, he thought. If I don’t leave this place soon, I will be useless.
His leg did feel better the next day, a Sunday, which meant that Oliver was home. “I’m thinking about a cane,”
Cornelius said. “And leaving you in peace.”
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Polly heard the apology in his voice. “We’ll be sorry to see you go,” she said. Even though she had complained to Oliver about his lack of conversation, and even though having him there had meant an extra shirt to wash and an extra mouth to feed, he had been a great help with David and Natty. His attentions meant she’d had more time for sewing, which brought in the money they needed for shoes.
She didn’t remember how she’d managed both boys before Cornelius came; she fell asleep frowning.
Come morning, Polly had a new cause for concern: Cornelius was tossing on his bed, sweating, and moaning in his sleep. He woke up too dizzy to sit, much less stand.
“I don’t like the look of him,” Polly said to Oliver.
“Easter isn’t as handy with a fever as our Judy.”
“I’ll stop off there right now and see if I can’t get her to walk back with me,” he said, kissing her good-bye. “Don’t fret. I’ll bring her back and we’ll all have a nice visit.”
Judy Rhines was pouring water for Mrs. Cook’s
morning tea when Oliver’s face appeared at the kitchen door. “Mistress Rhines,” he said, in a mock-formal voice.
“How good to see you. And how fares your patient?”
“She’s not much worse today, but her spirits are very low.”
“Even with you here as her nurse every day?”
“I wish I could do more than offer her compresses and company,” Judy sighed, as Oliver entered the kitchen and threw his leg over a chair. “The doctor finally let off bleeding her, thank goodness. Between you and me, that man causes her more harm than good.”
“I imagine Easter has told you all about our patient by now,” Oliver said.
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Judy busied herself with the tray. “You and Polly are saints for taking him in.”
“Polly is doing all the real work. It’s in her nature to look after strays. She took me in, didn’t she?”
“Oh, it’s in your nature, too,” said Judy, fondly. “How many more puppies have you got up there now?”
He laughed. “Well, we would have a whole litter but Poppa is too jealous. But the reason I stopped by is on account of Cornelius. He woke with a terrible fever today; he’s so bad, he can’t even get out of the bed. I came to ask if you’d do him a good turn.”
“Easter is as good a nurse as me any day,” Judy said.
“Well, Polly thinks you’re a better hand at fever. And the truth is, Natty was carrying on and crying for his aunt Judy. He misses you so much. Polly, too.”
The mention of Nathaniel melted her reserve. “I miss them too,” she said. “I suppose that if Martha is comfortable and since the Judge is here . . .”
“I’ll stop by for you on my way home,” Oliver said, and rushed out before Judy could make any excuses.