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THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER
Vol. VIII.—No. 362.
Price One Penny.
DECEMBER 4, 1886.
[Transcriber’s Note: This Table of Contents was not present in the original.]
MERLE’S CRUSADE.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
THE AMATEUR CHOIR TEACHER.
“SHE COULDN’T BOIL A POTATO.”
“NO.”
THE SHEPHERD’S FAIRY.
OUR TOUR IN NORTH ITALY.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
MERLE’S CRUSADE.
By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY, Author of “Aunt Diana,” “For Lilias,” etc.
“‘OH, MERLE!’ SHE WHISPERED, IN A VOICE OF AGONY.”
All rights reserved.]
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CHAPTER IX.
BERENGARIA.
he bright springdays found me aclose prisoner tothe house. Theend of April hadbeen unusuallychilly, and onecold rainy nightReggie was takenwith an attack ofcroup.
It was a very severe attack, and foran hour or two my alarm was excessive.Mrs. Morton was at a fancy ball, andMr. Morton was attending a late debate,and, to add to my trouble, Mrs. Garnett,who would at once have come to myassistance, was confined to her bed witha slight illness.
Travers had no experience in thesecases, and her presence was perfectlyuseless. Hannah, frightened and halfawake as she was, was far more helpful.Happily Anderson was still up, and heundertook at once to go for the doctor,adding, of his own accord, that he wouldgo round to the stables on his return,and send the carriage off for his mistress.“She is not expected home untilthree, and it is only half-past one, but shewould never forgive us if she were notfetched as quickly as possible.”
I thanked Anderson, and beggedHannah to replenish the bath with hotwater. Happily, I knew what remediesto use; my former experience in myschoolfellow’s nursery proved useful tome now. I remembered how the doctorhad approved of what I had done, andI resolved to do exactly the same forReggie. Frightened as I was, I amthankful to know my fears did not impedemy usefulness; I did all I couldto relieve my darling, and Hannah s