"Well, I can't tell," said the nurse, after a close examination.

And neither could Hippocrates, if he had been there.

"Do you think she can possibly live?" sobbed Hannah.

"Well--I hope so, honey. Law, I've seen 'em as low as that come round

again. Now lay the baby down, Hannah Worth, and come away to the window;

I want to talk to you without the risk of disturbing her."

Hannah deposited the baby by its mother's side and followed the nurse.

"Now you know, Hannah, you must not think as I'm a hard-hearted ole

'oman; but you see I must go."

"Go! oh, no! don't leave Nora in her low state! I have so little

experience in these cases, you know. Stay with her! I will pay you well,

if I am poor."

"Child, it aint the fear of losin' of the pay; I'm sure you're welcome

to all I've done for you."

"Then do stay! It seems indeed that Providence himself sent you to us

last night! What on earth should we have done without you! It was really

the Lord that sent you to us."

"'Pears to me it was Old Nick! I know one thing: I shouldn't a-come if I

had known what an adventur' I was a-goin' to have," mumbled the old

woman to herself.

Hannah, who had not heard her words, spoke again: "You'll stay?"

"Now, look here, Hannah Worth, I'm a poor old lady, with nothing but my

character and my profession; and if I was to stay here and nuss Nora

Worth, I should jes' lose both on 'em, and sarve me right, too! What call

have I to fly in the face of society?"

Hannah made no answer, but went and reached a cracked tea-pot from the

top shelf of the dresser, took from it six dollars and a half, which was

all her fortune, and came and put it in the hand of the nurse, saying: "Here! take this as your fee for your last night's work and go, and

never let me see your face again if you can help it."

"Now, Hannah Worth, don't you be unreasonable--now, don't ye; drat the

money, child; I can live without it, I reckon; though I can't live

without my character and my perfession; here, take it, child--you may

want it bad afore all's done; and I'm sure I would stay and take care of

the poor gal if I dared; but now you know yourself, Hannah, that if I

was to do so, I should be a ruinated old 'oman; for there ain't a

respectable lady in the world as would ever employ me again."




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