For a moment, madame debated on what was best to be done; then, finding herself equal to the emergency, she gently laid the unconscious woman on the bed, unfastened her dress, and slowly and softly removed her clothing. Although madame was lame, she was very strong, and in a few moments the sufferer was resting between the clean, cool sheets, while her child clung to her cold hands and sobbed piteously.
“Don’t cry, my little dear, don’t cry. Help me to bathe your mama’s face; help me like a good child, and she’ll be better soon, now she’s comfortable and can rest.”
With the thought that she could be of some assistance, Lady Jane struggled bravely to swallow her sobs, took off her hat with womanly gravity, and prepared herself to assist as nurse.
“Here’s smelling salts, and cologne-water,” she said, opening her mother’s bag. “Mama likes this; let me wet her handkerchief.”
Madame Jozain, watching the child’s movements, caught a glimpse of the silver fittings of the bag, and of a bulging pocket-book within it, and, while the little girl was hanging over her mother, she quietly removed the valuables to the drawer of her armoire, which she locked, and put the key in her bosom.
“I must keep these things away from Raste,” she said to herself; “he’s so thoughtless and impulsive, he might take them without considering the consequences.”
For some time madame bent over the stranger, using every remedy she knew to restore her to consciousness, while the child assisted her with thoughtfulness and self-control, really surprising in one of her age. Sometimes her hot tears fell on her mother’s white face, but no sob or cry escaped her little quivering lips, while she bathed the pale forehead, smoothed the beautiful hair, and rubbed the soft, cold hands.
At length, with a shiver and a convulsive groan, the mother partly opened her eyes, but there was no recognition in their dull gaze.
“Mama, dear, dear mama, are you better?” implored the child, as she hung over her and kissed her passionately.
“You see she’s opened her eyes, so she must be better; but she’s sleepy,” said madame gently. “Now, my little dear, all she needs is rest, and you mustn’t disturb her. You must be very quiet, and let her sleep. Here’s some nice, fresh milk the milkman has just brought. Won’t you eat some rice and milk, and then let me take off your clothes, and bathe you, and you can slip on your little nightgown that’s in your mother’s bag; and then you can lie down beside her and sleep till morning, and in the morning you’ll both be well and nicely rested.”