“Lie back, honey,” Clarissasaid.
Elizabeth lay back and Clarissa began to massage herabdomen.
“Does that feel anybetter?”
“Alittle.”
“How can I help?” Susan asked, obviously shaken by theexperience.
“Let’s just sit with her. Maybe you could read to her until the doctorarrives.”
“That’s a good idea,” Susan said, finding one of Elizabeth’s favorite books and bringing it over, and sitting on the side of the bed to begin reading toher.
Soon, Elizabeth began to drift off tosleep.
“Is it all right if she sleeps?” Susanasked.
Clarissa felt Elizabeth’s forehead again. “She’s not getting any hotter. I think it might do her good.” She turned to leave. “I’ll be in my room if you needme.”
Within the hour, Doctor Hilliard and John arrived. The Doctor immediately went to the bedside and began examining thegirl.
John stood back to watch. Susan went over tohim.
“How’s she doing?” John askedher.
“She complains of a stomach ache and she’s running a low fever, but there have not been any signs she’sworsening.”
“Good.”
John kept staring as the doctor worked withher.
Susan put her hand on John’s arm. “I feel terrible. I feel this is myfault.”
“How could you say that?” J0hn asked turning toher.
“I wasn’t watching her closelyenough.”
“Nonsense, you only turned away for a moment. I saw you watching her before you turned to look at me coming towardyou.”
“But she was under my watch. She was my responsibility. If anything happens to her…” Susan began to tearup.
John put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tohim.
Doctor Hilliard turned to John. “I think she’s going to be fine. You were very quick acting and I don’t believe there will be any lasting damage beyond feeling bad for a few days. Let her sleep as much as she wants, and let her up when she wants to.” He stood up and went over to John and Susan. “Monitor her and let me know if anythingchanges.”
“We will, and thank you, Doctor,” Susansaid.
Standish was standing at thedoor.
“He’ll show you out,” John said, and the doctor left with thebutler.
Susan gave a sigh of relief and rested her head against John’s shoulder. He put his arm aroundher.
“It’s fine. Everything will be justfine.”
* * *
John had invitedSusan to visit him in the library at three o’clock to discuss plans for the new school. And Elizabeth, now fully recovered from what was being called the mushroom incident, was taking her afternoonnap.
