It's the way of the world, Anne: one wrong leading to
others. Is Matilda getting over it?"
"I hardly know. She is not out of danger; but Mr. Hillary has hopes of
her. One of the other servants has taken it, and is worse than Matilda.
Mr. Hillary has been with her three times to-day, and is coming again.
She was ill when I last wrote to you, Val; but we did not know it."
"Which of them is it?" he asked.
"The dairymaid; a stout girl, who has never had a day's illness before.
I don't suppose you know her. There was some trouble with her. She would
not take any medicine; would not do anything she ought to have done, and
the consequence is that the fever has got dangerously ahead. I am sure
she is very ill."
"I hope it will not spread beyond the Rectory."
"Oh, Val, that is our one great hope," she said, turning her earnest face
to him in the moonlight. "We are taking all possible precautions. None of
us are going beyond the grounds, except papa, and we do not receive any
one here. I don't know what papa will say to your coming."
He smiled. "But you can't keep all the world away!"
"We do--very nearly. Mr. Hillary comes, and Dr. Beamish from Garchester,
and one or two people have been here on business. If any one calls at the
gate, they are not asked in; and I don't suppose they would come in if
asked. Jabez Gum's the most obstinate. He comes in just as usual.
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