Maris Read Online Free Page B

saw her put her hand over her heart, and I asked her what was the matter, and she said, 'Oh, just a sharp pain.' "
    "Had she been having pains in her heart?"
    "She never complained," said Maris sadly. "I'm afraid we were all so busy with our own affairs that we didn't notice."
    "She sewed a lot last night," volunteered Gwyneth. "She told me this morning she'd got it all done, what she was working on."
    Tears sprang to Maris's eyes, and she turned away to hide them and then turned back again as she heard her mother give a soft little breath of a sigh. Oh, was she coming back to them, or was she gone? She watched the grave face of the doctor anxiously, but he worked on quietly and gave no sign. Only asked for water and a spoon, and handed the glass back to Maris.
    A car drew up at the door. The young man came back and brought whatever it was that he had been sent for, but Maris took no notice of him. Some friend of Merrick's, she thought. Then a few minutes later a nurse arrived, and Maris caught her breath in hope and fear. But there was no time to ask questions. She must go upstairs and get the bed ready for the patient to be moved. There were sheets to hunt out, the good sheets. Where were the good sheets? Every one she unfolded seemed to be torn or badly frayed at the hems. Oh, the house was in perfect order for a wedding but not for an illness. And they had not been expecting to have any of the wedding party stay overnight with them, for they all lived in the town.
    "There aren't any good sheets left, Maris," whispered Gwyneth. "Mother had me help her gather up the laundry for the man this morning, and we put the last good ones in the bag. She said she must stitch up some of the torn ones till the laundry got back."
    Suddenly Maris took it in. Mother and Father had been scrimping on everything so there might be more to pay her wedding bills. There were beautiful garments hanging in her closet, costly garments, for her parents were sending her proudly away from their care; and her generous hope chest was filled to overflowing with linen and percale sheets and pillowcases, smooth as silk and fine of quality; and towels in abundance, rich and sumptuous as any bride might desire. But the mother of the bride must be put to bed in torn sheets!
    Suddenly Maris's face went white and her lips set in a thin line of determination. She put back the torn sheets she had been unfolding hopelessly and marched into her own room to her hope chest. She delved deep and brought out a wealth of lovely smooth sheets and pillow covers and brought them into her mother's room where Gwyneth was taking off the worn sheets that had been on the bed.
    Gwyneth looked at her in startled dismay.
    "But, Maris, those are your wedding things! You mustn't use those!"
    "Why not?" said Maris grimly. "They're mine, aren't they? Mother bought them for me, didn't she? I have a right to use them the way I want to, don't I?"
    "Yes, but Mother wouldn't want you to use them up now. Not on her bed."
    "I'm sure she would," said Maris, "if she knew how I feel about it. I'd rather use these now on Mother's bed, Gwynnie, than on any grandest occasion that could ever come into my life. Wouldn't you feel that way, Gwyn, if they were yours?"
    "Oh, yes, I would," said Gwyneth, "but then, I wouldn't have the Thorpes to think about."
    She said it so quaintly and so gravely that Maris would have broken down and laughed if she hadn't felt too frightened and too sad to laugh. But somehow it opened her eyes to the way her young sister felt about her future relatives.
    And just then the doorbell pealed through the house.
    "We must muffle that bell," said Maris. "The doctor said there mustn't be any noise. Mother startles every time she hears a sharp sound."
    "I'll go," said Gwyneth.
    "No, you stay here and help me. Tuck the sheets in over that side. The doctor wants to get Mother in bed as soon as possible. They are going to bring her right up. Someone will go to the door, Merrick