The Wall Between Part 28

"Go right up: I'll finish things here," whispered Jane hurriedly. "All is, if you want Martin to go for Melviny, you have only to say the word. You can wave a handkerchief out of the window, an' he'll understand."

"Where does Miss Grey----"

"For the land sake don't call her that. n.o.body'd know who you meant, an'

she wouldn't, either."

"Well, Melviny, then--where does she live?"

"Down in the valley--King's Hollow, they call it."

"Why, it's miles!" protested Lucy in dismay. "I can't send your brother way down there. He's been doing nothing but errands all day."

"I know it," Jane replied. "He's been to town twice already. He came home this noon with a load of grain an' then changed horses an' went right back to the village again 'cause he forgot something. Likely you noticed him drivin' past."

The girl colored before Jane's friendly glance. She longed to tell the whole truth, for by nature she was a person of great frankness. Since, however, Martin had not seen fit to enlighten his sisters, perhaps it was wiser that she should not do so. He may have had his own reasons for keeping them in ignorance.

"Lucy!"

"Yes, I'm coming, Aunt Ellen."

"Do go along," implored Jane; "she may suspect something. I'll leave the house all picked up, tidy as a pin. You won't forget to wave to Martin if you want him."

"No. Thank you a thousand times, Ja--Miss Howe."

"Jane'll do," smiled the woman kindly. "I'm more used to it."

Catching her visitor's hand in a quick grasp, Lucy pressed it warmly and then sped up the stairs.

"Whatever have you been putterin' about so long?" queried Ellen petulantly.

"I was clearing up."

"That's good. I guess the place needed it," sighed her aunt. "I warn't half through straightenin' things in the kitchen. I thought I heard you talkin'."

"Heard me?"

"Probably 'twas a notion. My head kinder buzzes." Then she suddenly turned suspiciously on the girl, adding sharply:

"You ain't been over to the Howes'?"

"No."

"That's right. An' don't you go, neither. We don't need no help from them."

A pause followed.

"Did you want me for something?" Lucy at last inquired, after waiting for her aunt to speak.

"Yes, I did."

Nevertheless Ellen made no further remark for some time. Finally she burst out fretfully:

"I'm almighty afraid I'll have to hire in somebody, after all."

The last two words were peculiarly illuminating.

"You mean somebody to help?"

"Yes," grumbled the older woman with peevish shrillness. "We've got a pull ahead of us; I know that well enough. An' I s'pose you ain't got enough muscle to lift me. Likely you couldn't even raise me up on the pillows if you was to try. How you ever got me upstairs beats all."

Lucy hastily turned her head aside.

"They do say, though," continued Ellen, "that sometimes when folks are scat to death they can do things they can't do any other time. You were scat, I s'pose."

"Yes, I was."

"Mebbe you was scat worse when you found I warn't dead," chuckled the sick woman disagreeably.

The girl did not reply. Ellen paused; then seemed to regret her ill humor.

"Now 'bout a woman----" She halted abruptly.

"Have you any one in mind?" Lucy asked timidly.

"No," returned Ellen emphatically, "I haven't. I hate all the folks in this town about equally--that is, all except the Howes," she concluded with significant emphasis.

"Isn't there a nurse in the village?"

"There's Melviny Grey."

"Is she a nurse?" the girl inquired innocently.

"Melviny ain't never been cla.s.sified," retorted Ellen grimly. "She's neither fish, flesh nor fowl. She's taught school; laid out the dead; an'

done the Lord only knows what durin' her lifetime. She can turn her hand to most anything; an' they do say she's mum as an oyster, which is a virtue out of the common in a woman."

"Suppose I see if we can get her?" suggested Lucy.

"Well," returned Ellen, with a reluctant groan, "I reckon you'll have to.

You can send Tony for her when he gets back, though how he'll find her I don't know. You might's well hunt for a needle in a haystack as to track down Melviny. She's liable to be most anywheres tendin' babies or trimmin'

bunnits; an' Tony's such a numskull."

"I guess we can locate her."

"Well, pack him off anyhow, the minute he gets home; an' tell him not to do any unnecessary travelin', an' to keep where the ground is smooth if he can. There's no use wearin' out Dolly's new shoes by trapesin' over the stones in 'em the first thing. Don't be afraid to speak up good and sharp to Tony. He's used to it an' understands it better. Ain't it the devil's own luck I should be chained down here like this!"

"Maybe you'll be better before long."

"Don't be a fool," snarled Ellen. "Of course I shan't."