It was her night to go home and sleep, but Naomi's words haunted
her, although she believed they were born of pure
"cantankerousness."
"You'd better go in and look at her, Sarah," she said, as she
rinsed out the pails. "If you think I'd better stay here
to-night, I will. If the woman was like anybody else a body
would know what to do; but, if she thought she could scare us by
saying she was going to die, she'd say it."
When Sarah went in, the sick room was very quiet. In her
opinion, Naomi was no worse than usual, and she told Caroline so;
but the latter felt vaguely uneasy and concluded to stay.
Naomi was as cool and defiant as customary. She made them bring
Christopher in to say good-night and had him lifted up on the bed
to kiss her. Then she held him back and looked at him
admiringly--at the bright curls and rosy cheeks and round, firm
limbs. The boy was uncomfortable under her gaze and squirmed
hastily down. Her eyes followed him greedily, as he went out.
When the door closed behind him, she groaned. Sarah Spencer was
startled. She had never heard Naomi Holland groan since she had
come to wait on her.
"Are you feeling any worse, Naomi? Is the pain coming back?"
"No. Go and tell Car'line to give Christopher some of that grape
jelly on his bread before he goes to bed. She'll find it in the
cupboard under the stairs."
Presently the house grew very still.
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