Braddon, the doctor, came very often: and
at last Susan was called into Mamma's room, and it was explained to
her that Mamma was thought so ill, that she must go to be under a
London doctor, and would be away, she could not tell how long; so
that meantime the children must all be left to Miss Fosbrook, with
many many injunctions to be good and obedient, for hearing that they
were going on well would be poor Mamma's only comfort.
It was three days since Captain and Mrs. Merrifield had gone; and
Miss Fosbrook stood at the window, gazing at the bright young green
of the horse-chestnut trees, and thinking many various thoughts in
the lull that the children had left when they rushed out of doors.
She thought herself quite alone, and stood, sometimes smiling over
the odd ways of her charges, and at what they put her in mind of,
sometimes gravely thinking whether she had said or done the wisest
things for them, or what their mother would have most approved. She
was just going to move away from the window, when she saw a little
figure curled up on the floor, with her head on the window-seat.
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