A Countess from Canada eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 357 pages of information about A Countess from Canada.

A Countess from Canada eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 357 pages of information about A Countess from Canada.

“Very well,” he replied briefly, then hobbled on into the kitchen, and for the next hour was occupied in doing his utmost for the sick man.

Katherine was left a moment alone with Mrs. Burton, after ’Duke Radford had been carried to his bed, and she said hastily:  “Nellie, would you mind if Mr. Ferrars stayed here for a few days until his feet are better?  We are crowded, I know; but either he or the boys could sleep in the loft now it is warmer, and Oily Dave’s house is impossible until the flood is down.”

“I should say it is impossible at any time,” replied Mrs. Burton, “and I shall be only too thankful if he will stay for a while because of poor father.  Oh, Katherine, I am afraid this long terrible winter has killed him’” she said, with a quiver of breakdown in her voice.

“It is not the winter.  Why, he has scarcely been out at all, so he cannot have suffered from that,” Katherine answered sadly.  She knew only too well why her father had broken down again, only the worst of it was she could not tell anyone, but must hide the knowledge within her own heart, because it involved her father’s honour.

“I have seen him failing for so long, only yesterday and to-day he seemed better,” Mrs. Burton went on; “and he was sitting quite comfortably by the stove, not talking very much, but looking thoroughly contented, when he suddenly pitched out of his chair and lay like a log on the floor.”

“Will you ask Mr. Ferrars to stay with us, or shall I?” said Katherine.

“I will if you like.  I will put it so that he shall think he is doing us a favour, then he will be more comfortable about accepting; and really, as things are, I don’t see where else there is for him to go.”

“Nor I,” replied Katherine, and was thankful to leave the matter in her sister’s hands for the present.

CHAPTER XI

A Woman of Business

“What is the trouble, Miss Radford?”

Katherine started.  She had been so busy in packing baking powder, tobacco, currants, and things of that description into a box for the fisher from Long Island Sound that she had not heard the approach of Jervis Ferrars, who wore list slippers, and so made but little noise in walking.  The long hard day which had held so many momentous happenings was wearing to a close, and so far she had found no chance at all to speak to the stranger about what he had to fear.  Mrs. Burton had begged him with tears in her eyes to stay a few days to help them in looking after their father, and Jervis Ferrars had accepted with such evident pleasure at the prospect that Katherine had troubled no further then, and had devoted herself to the many things which called for her attention.

Her father still lay in the condition of absolute unconsciousness into which he had fallen at first, and Mr. Ferrars did not think there would be much change for a few days.  He also did not apprehend any immediate danger, and they all took courage from this.  Sickness and incapacity did not daunt them; but it was death the separator of whom they were all so much afraid.

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A Countess from Canada from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.