Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. "T S that all you are going to give me? Why Maggie, -i- child, I am starving." "That is all you'll get till twelve, no, till half-past twelve," replied Maggie, decidedly. "At this rate I shall never leave my bed," said Horace. "How can you be so hard upon me?" "I gave you a great spoonful more than the doctor said I might. Don't be unreasonable, Horace dear. You do not realize how very, very ill you have been." "You have misunderstood the doctor, I have no doubt. I am not gaining in the least. How can I, fed on slops, like a baby, and fed by the teaspoonful at that." Yes, this was the end of all her tears and sleepless nights; he was just as ungrateful, and just as unreasonable as a sick boy. "I would like some water, at any rate. I suppose you don't begrudge me that. Don't look like an injured innocent, for pity's sake." And as soon as she had given him the water and taken her seat, he wanted more light in the room, and when she rose, wearily, to let in more, he complained that her shoes creaked, though, owing to this frequent complaint, she wore no shoes at all. And then he asked her if it was not nearly twelve, when his next portion of beef-tea was due; and when she reminded him that it was to come at half-past twelve, he would fain have disputed with her on that point, only she would not keep up her side of the contest. The truth is he was really more to be pitied now than during the days when he lay between life and death, belonging to neither. And fortunately for him, though Maggie had never had one sick day, she had seen enough of illness in others to know how to make allowances for him. What pained her was his apparent want of love for her. He never gave her a smile, or apologised for the trouble he cost her, or...