Her daughter bent towards her, and kissed
her with the prettiest little spasm of love and pity.
"I will tell you about it, doctor," said she. "Poor
mother is almost worn out. Fred--my brother, that is to
say, is worse. He has become noisy, and will not be
quiet."
"And my brother, the general," continued Mrs. La
Force, "naturally did not expect this when he kindly
offered us a home, and, being a nervous man, it is very
trying to him. In fact, it cannot go on. He says so
himself."
"But what is mother to do?" cried the girl, taking up
the tale again. "No hotel or lodging-house would take us
in while poor Fred is like that. And we have not
the heart to send him to an asylum. Uncle will not have
us any longer, and we have nowhere to go to." Her grey
eyes tried to look brave, but her mouth would go down at
the corners.
I rose and walked up and down the room, trying to
think it all out.
"What I wanted to ask you," said Mrs. La Force, "was
whether perhaps you knew some doctor or some private
establishment which took in such cases--so that we could
see Fred every day or so. The only thing is that he must
be taken at once, for really my brother has reached the
end of his patience."
I rang the bell for my housekeeper.
"Miss Williams," said I, "do you think we can furnish
a bedroom by to-night, so as to take in a gentleman who
is ill?"
Never have I so admired that wonderful woman's self-
command.
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