CHAPTER V The Patient
"But it is awfully kind of you, Ellen."
Ellen Deal shook her head.
"No," she answered. "I shall like it. Since I came out West with you andthe Camp Fire girls, Mrs. Burton, I have been feeling that perhaps I washere under false pretenses. You see I am older than the other girls, andcame partly because Dr. Sylvia told me I might be useful to you. Exceptfor showing you a few first aid remedies I have not been useful at all. Idon't feel that I am a particularly agreeable companion, so I add nothingto the pleasure of the Camp Fire in that way."
"Nonsense," the Camp Fire guardian responded. Nevertheless a slight pangof self-reproach assailed her. Had she allowed Ellen Deal to feel thatshe was of less interest to the Camp Fire group than the other girls? Itwas true that Ellen was older, that she was midway between the age of aCamp Fire girl and a possible guardian. But, more than this, she seemedto have one of the hard and matter-of-fact natures it is always difficultto reach. Romance, the dreams and desires that are a part of nearly everylife, hardly appeared to touch Ellen; or if they did at least she gave nosign. In their months together amid perhaps as beautiful andextraordinary scenery as there is anywhere in the world, Ellen had showedno enthusiasm; in her life with the Camp Fire girls, no especialaffection except, perhaps, in friendship with Alice Ashton.
"However, she was looking in a great deal better health," Mrs. Burtonreflected, and the present moment was scarcely the time for introspectionby either of them.
"Just the same it is good of you, Ellen, besides not another one of uswould be equal to the task. But if it is too much for you, you must letus know. Peggy is going with you now and I'll drive over in the morningto see how you are getting on."
"Thank you," Ellen replied gratefully. Yet she would like to have said somuch more--to have told Mrs. Burton how greatly she appreciated herkindness in allowing her, an entire stranger, to be one of her group ofCamp Fire girls and also her guest for the past three months. However,words never came easily to her, for she was not one of the fortunatepersons who can make themselves charming by the simple gift ofexpression, which may or may not be sincere.
Then she went away to pack her bag with a few necessary articles for thework ahead of her.
It was to Ellen Deal that Dan Webster had first confided the difficultposition of their unexpected guest. Immediately Ellen had suggested thatshe go with the new girl to her camp and there see what should be done.Besides the fact of her brother's illness, the girl herself would requirelooking after for a few days, if not for a longer time.
Later Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Burton had given a more or less enforcedconsents since, under the circumstances, there seemed nothing else to bedone.
"Ellen certainly looks competent," Polly decided at this moment, watchingher move away. Her figure was small and neat, suggesting a great deal ofreserve strength; her sandy hair had grown a shade brighter in tone fromher months in the sunshine and her always bright color, brighter. It wasa pity that she appeared so severe and critical.
This, also, was Marta Clark's impression, riding beside Ellen, Dan andPeggy occupying the front seat of the wagon which the Camp Fire partyordinarily used for carrying provisions.
Naturally Marta felt under deep obligations to the strange young womanbeside her, yet she would like to have been able to prepare her forcertain revelations ahead.
Ellen looked so scrupulously tidy. Then Marta knew the Camp Fire idealsand training which Ellen had added to her nursing ones. And her ownhousekeeping left so much to be desired. In fact Marta realized that shewas careless, and her brother equally so. How would Miss Deal survive foreven a few days with them, in spite of her spirit of self-sacrifice?Certainly Marta hated to accept so great a favor as the care of herselfand her brother must represent. Yet, she too appreciated the fact thatthere seemed nothing else to be done.
The ride did not occupy half an hour, Marta naturally directing the way.
Nevertheless it was nearly ten o'clock in the morning before the littleparty reached the new camp.
Two tents were situated in a small clearing at the foot of a rocky hill.Near them was the remains of a camp fire and not far away a litter of oldpapers and tin cans. In front of one tent there was an invalid's chairand also a cot. Yet neither of them were occupied.
"I wonder where Rob can be," Marta said, trying to conceal her evidentnervousness from the three strangers.
She need scarcely have asked the question. The moment the wagon stopped,a tall, abnormally thin young fellow came quickly toward them, evidentlyhaving heard their approach from some distance off. He was breathless andthe color was burning crimson on his high cheek bones. He looked likeMarta except that he was handsomer, for his features were more regular,although the brother and sister had nearly the same coloring.
He bowed politely enough to the strangers in the little party. Butafterwards, something, perhaps his own illness and weakness, seemed todestroy his self-control.
"Where have you been, Marta? What has happened? I have been searching foryou ever since six o'clock. I wakened to find you gone, and after waitingan hour for you to come back I thought, or rather I could not think, whathad become of you. You are considerate not to have left me a message."
There was an angry sarcasm in the young man's voice and manner which wasextraordinarily out of place under the circumstances. Dan felt so sorryfor the girl with them, that he would like to have settled with herbrother, except for the apparent fact of his illness. But a high temperwas evidently a family characteristic. Dan recalled Marta's mentioningthat she and her brother were from Kentucky.
But, even while he was speaking, the young fellow had to grasp hold ofthe wagon for support.
Marta was trying to explain to him, when Ellen Deal climbed quietly out.
"You are not strong enough to be on your feet any longer; you must havebeen walking about for several hours, when you know you are not expectedto take any exercise," she said authoritatively. Then, without the leasthesitation or embarrassment, she took the perfectly strange young man bythe elbow and led him to his chair. He accompanied her without a protest.
Afterwards, while Dan and Peggy were helping Marta to alight from thewagon, Ellen tried to make him understand what had occurred.
Secretly Rob Clark was both ashamed and amused by the situation--ashamedof his own exhibition of temper, for he was good-natured on mostoccasions. But also he was amused by the strange young woman's immediatecommand of him. However he really was too weak to protest and, afterdiscovering his sister's injury, grateful to the newcomer beyond hispresent strength to express.
A short time after Ellen was in complete command, both of the situationand her two patients.
Marta was stretched on the cot in front of the tent and her brother hadnot been allowed to move from his chair.
With Peggy's and Dan's aid a fresh fire had been built and beef tea fedthe invalid, who confessed to having had no breakfast because of hisanxiety. Also the confusion inside the tent had been a littlestraightened out, although Dan and Peggy were obliged to leave when theymight still have been useful.
However, they, too, were under Ellen's command. She insisted that theydrive over to the big hotel not far away in order to secure the advice ofa physician. He was to be asked to come at once.
And seeing them depart, promising to return next day, Marta was not surewhether she was sorry or glad of the results of her own impertinence andthe accident due to it. These months alone with her brother had been verydepressing. They had no friends in the West and now, perhaps, if shebehaved herself, the Camp Fire girls might be kind to her.