human
Clear out. You can sit in the hall. When I want you, I'll let you know.
gpt
I won't have that fool girl buzzing round. I don't like all this highfalootin' business of nurses, anyhow. They are nothing but foolish expense. Perhaps that last word stirred some memory, for she added abruptly:
human
Nannie, bring me that--that picture you have in the parlor. The Virgin Mary, you know. Rags of popery, but I want to look at it. No; I can't pay $5,000 for 14 X 18 inches of old master, and hire nurses to curl my hair, too!
gpt
I think she likes the child, Elizabeth said, in a low voice; but Nannie sighed, and said,
human
No; she is provoked because Blair was extravagant. After Miss Baker's banishment, Elizabeth did most of the waiting on her, for Nannie's anxious timidity made her awkward to the point of being, as Mrs. Maitland expressed it, wearily,
gpt
Once she asked where Blair was, and Elizabeth said that nobody knew.
human
He heard of some business opening, Mrs. Maitland, and went East to see about it.
gpt
Went East? What did he go East for? He's got a business opening at home, right under his nose,
human
I won't stay in bed! And despite Nannie's pleadings, and Miss Baker's agitated flutterings, she got up, and shuffled into the dining-room; she stood there, clutching with her uninjured hand a gray blanket that was huddled around her shoulders. Her hair was hanging in limp, disordered locks about her face, which had fallen away to the point of emaciation. She was leaning against the table, her knees shaking with weakness. But it was evident that her mind was quite clear.
gpt
Bed is a place to die in, she said;
human
I'm well. Let me alone. I shall stay here. She managed to get over to her desk, and sank into the revolving chair with a sigh of relief.
gpt
Ah! she said,
human
I'm getting out of the woods. Harris! Bring me something to eat.
gpt
Don't talk baby-talk. I'm getting well. But I've been sick; I've had a scare; so I'm going to write a letter, in case--Or here, you write it for me.
human
To Blair?
gpt
Blair? No! To David Richie about that money. Don't you remember I told you I was going to give him a lot of money for a hospital? That I was going to get a certificate of deposit --her voice wavered and she seemed to doze. A moment later, when her mind cleared again, her superintendent said, with some effort:
human
Aren't you going to do something for Blair? You will get well, I'm sure, but--in case--Your will isn't fair to the boy; you ought to do something for him.
gpt
I have. I've done the best thing in the world for him; I've thrown him on his own legs! As for getting well, of course I'm going to get well. But if I didn't, everything is closed up; my will's made; Blair is sure of poverty. Well; I guess I won't have you write to David to-day; I'm tired. When I'm out again, I'll tell Howe to draw up a paper telling him just what the duties of a trustee are.... Why don't you ... why don't you marry his mother, and be done with it? I hate to see a man and woman shilly-shally.
human
She won't have me,
gpt
Well, she's a nice woman, Sarah Maitland said;
human
What was that I used to say about her? the sick woman ruminated, with closed eyes;
gpt
Fifty,
human
No, that wasn't it. 'Fair, and, and'--what was it? It puts me out of patience to forget things! 'Fair and--_frail_!' That was it; frail! 'Fair and frail.' She did not pause for her superintendent's gasp of protest.
gpt
Yes; first time I saw her, I thought there was a nigger in the woodpile. She won't marry you, friend Ferguson, because she has something on her conscience. Tell her I say not to be a fool. The best man going is none too good for her!
human
No! no! no! I won't go to bed. Bed is where people die. She got up from her chair, to walk about and show how well she was; but when she reached the center of the room she seemed to crumple up, sinking and sliding down on to the floor, her back against one of the carved legs of the table. Once there, she would not get up. She became so violently angry when they urged her to let them help her to her feet, that they were obliged to yield.
gpt
We will do more harm by irritating her, the doctor said,