Some good, yes--such as it is. That woman's disease is typhoid!
You've brought it to a show-up, I think, with your insanities,
and that's a service--such as it is. I hadn't been able to determine
what it was before."
With one impulse the old ladies sprang to their feet, quaking with terror.
"Sit down! What are you proposing to do?"
"Do? We must fly to her. We--"
"You'll do nothing of the kind; you've done enough harm for one day.
Do you want to squander all your capital of crimes and follies on a
single deal? Sit down, I tell you. I have arranged for her to sleep;
she needs it; if you disturb her without my orders, I'll brain you
--if you've got the materials for it."
They sat down, distressed and indignant, but obedient, under compulsion.
He proceeded:
"Now, then, I want this case explained. THEY wanted to explain it
to me--as if there hadn't been emotion or excitement enough already.
You knew my orders; how did you dare to go in there and get up
that riot?"
Hester looked appealing at Hannah; Hannah returned a beseeching look
at Hester--neither wanted to dance to this unsympathetic orchestra.
The doctor came to their help. He said:
"Begin, Hester."
Fingering at the fringes of her shawl, and with lowered eyes,
Hester said, timidly:
"We should not have disobeyed for any ordinary cause, but this
was vital. This was a duty. With a duty one has no choice;
one must put all lighter considerations aside and perform it.
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