Dr. Philip groaned, “Cursed chatterbox!” said he.  “What is to be done?  Must we break it to her now?  Oh, if I could only buy a few days more!  The heart to be crushed while the body is weak!  It is too cruel.  Advise me, Mrs. Briscoe.  You are an experienced woman, and I think you are a kind-hearted woman.”

“Well, sir,” said Mrs. Briscoe, “I had the name of it, when I was younger—­before Briscoe failed, and I took to nursing; which it hardens, sir, by use, and along of the patients themselves; for sick folk are lumps of selfishness; we see more of them than you do, sir.  But this I will say, ’tisn’t selfishness that lies now in that room, waiting for the blow that will bring her to death’s door, I’m sore afraid; but a sweet, gentle, thoughtful creature, as ever supped sorrow; for I don’t know how ’tis, doctor, nor why ’tis, but an angel like that has always to sup sorrow.”

“But you do not advise me,” said the doctor, in agitation, “and something must be done.”

“Advise you, sir; it is not for me to do that.  I am sure I’m at my wits’ ends, poor thing!  Well, sir, I don’t see what you can do, but try and break it to her.  Better so, than let it come to her like a clap of thunder.  But I think, sir, I’d have a wet-nurse ready, before I said much:  for she is very quick—­and ten to one but the first word of such a thing turns her blood to gall.  Sir, I once knew a poor woman—­she was a carpenter’s wife—­a-nursing her child in the afternoon—­and in runs a foolish woman, and tells her he was killed dead, off a scaffold.  ’Twas the man’s sister told her.  Well, sir, she was knocked stupid like, and she sat staring, and nursing of her child, before she could take it in rightly.  The child was dead before supper-time, and the woman was not long after.  The whole family was swept away, sir, in a few hours, and I mind the table was not cleared he had dined on, when they came to lay them out.  Well-a-day, nurses see sorrow!”

“We all see sorrow that live long, Mrs. Briscoe.  I am heart-broken myself; I am desperate.  You are a good soul, and I’ll tell you.  When my nephew married this poor girl, I was very angry with him; and I soon found she was not fit to be a struggling man’s wife; and then I was very angry with her.  She had spoiled a first-rate physician, I thought.  But, since I knew her better, it is all changed.  She is so lovable.  How I shall ever tell her this terrible thing, God knows.  All I know is, that I will not throw a chance away.  Her body shall be stronger, before I break her heart.  Cursed idiots, that could not save a single man, with their boats, in a calm sea!  Lord forgive me for blaming people, when I was not there to see.  I say I will give her every chance.  She shall not know it till she is stronger:  no, not if I live at her door, and sleep there, and all.  Good God! inspire me with something.  There is always something to be done, if one could but see it.”