Wonder what next you'll do. I declare I'll
slap you soon--you make me so cross."
Through the surgery-window the words floated out: "For goodness' sake,
don't bother me now with such trifles, Mary! It's not the moment--with
a whole string of people waiting in the other room."
"Well, if only you'll be satisfied with what I do, dear, and not blame
me afterwards."
"Get Purdy to give you a hand with Ned's affair. He has time and to
spare." And wetting his finger-tip Mahony nervously flipped over a dozen
pages of the book that lay open before him.
"Well . . . if you think I should," said Mary, with a spice of doubt.
"I do. And now go, wife, and remember to shut the door after you. Oh,
and tell that woman in the kitchen to stop singing. Her false notes
drive me crazy.--How many are there, this morning?"
"Eight--no, nine, if that's another," replied Mary, with an ear to the
front door.
"Tch! I'll have to stop then," and Mahony clapped to the work he had
been consulting. "Never a minute to keep abreast of the times." But:
"That's a good, helpful wife," as Mary stooped to kiss him. "Do the best
you can, mavourneen, and never mind me."
"Take me with you, Auntie!" Trotty sprang up from her stool, overturning
babe and cradle.
"Not to-day, darling. Besides, why are you here? You know I've forbidden
you to be on the front verandah when the patients come. Run away to the
back, and play there."
Mary donned hat and shawl, opened her parasol and went out into the sun.
Pages:
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447