This was only given occasionally, as it was
not considered very strengthening; but nurse found it useful to make a
variety.
Ella expected a great quantity of arrowroot would be used; indeed, that
was her one idea in regard to invalid diet, but the doctor did not care
for it, and never ordered it.
"It is no use," he said, when she once suggested it, "unless you add
nourishing things to it; it is nearly all starch, and there is nothing
in it that could sustain life by itself. Common wheaten flour is far
more valuable, and either that or corn flour should always be used in
preference to arrowroot when it is important to get as much nourishment
as possible."
The nurse was a kind-hearted woman, as well as an efficient attendant,
and was as ready to teach the duties of a sick room as Ella was to learn
them.
"It is a cold day, Miss Ella, you must keep the fire up," she said one
day before retiring for her afternoon rest. "Do not wait till the fire
has gone down, but put more coal on when this seems nearly burnt
through. Many nurses will tell you that you should have some coal
wrapped in paper, ready to lift on to the fire without making any noise,
but I do not like that way myself, the paper makes such a dirty fire. So
look here, miss, I take care to have plenty of pieces of coal of a nice
size in the scuttle, and then I keep this old pair of gloves by the side
of the fire (I will leave them there for you to use), and I slip them on
and lift the pieces of coal up with my fingers; I don't make noise
enough to wake a baby that way, and can lay each piece just where I want
it too.
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