Tales of the children's ward / by Honnor Morten and H. F. Gethen.

  • Morten, Honnor, 1861-1913.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tales of the children's ward / by Honnor Morten and H. F. Gethen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    It Wcis tliG Icist continuous converscition that the luothcr and son ever held; next day the former was so much worse that she could say little to any one. She was faithfully nursed and lovingly watched over, and the highest medical skill in England was freely obtained; but it was all in vain, and Death the Conqueror left Will vanquished and sore wounded by his fight. A sister of his father’s had joined the Rectory party in their time of trouble, and now she offered to remain altogether with her brother, so poor Will was free to return to his work. ‘ What’s come to Eversley ? ’ said a student one day, ‘ I can’t get a rise out of him any way, and my chief object in life is gone.’ ‘ His chief object in life seems gone too,’ said another ; ‘ I never saw a fellow so changed ; he never used to care for a thing besides his work, and certainly not a hang for a patient, except as a case to do him credit. Now, he’s as gentle and sympathetic as a woman.’ ^ What do you think I caught him at yesterday ? ’ said the first speaker; ‘ he’s been so affable lately that I thought I’d get him to let me see that mounted specimen he was telling us about, so I went to his room. He opened the door himself, and he looked rather foolish and blushed right up into his luxuriant carroty locks, and then he said, If you don’t mind children, you can come in and look for it,” so I thought I’d just see what was up, and if the beggar hadn’t got a tea-party on ! Seven kids round the table, and the eldest of them was pouring out the tea. They’d got a fine swagger sort of a set-out, and a clean table-cloth, and old Eversley walking round waiting on them. I’m sure I never was so taken aback in my life ! ’ ‘ But who were* they ? ’ asked his friend. ‘ Why patients, bless you ! every blessed one of them. That little Peter was there, quite contented and comfortable, propped up with a pillow in the arm-chair. Eversley said I could stay if I liked, and if I would not disturb the children. “ They don’t get much pleasure in their lives,” said he quite gently.’ ‘Well,’ rejoined the other student, ‘old Macfaiiane’s a shrewd fellow, and I heard him tell some one last session, that if Eversley’s heart were equal to his head, he’d be the best modern man in the ])rofession.’