The Cuckoo Tree Read Online Free PDF Page A

cricket," Dido said. "The surgeon on board his ship—that's the
Thrush
—told him how when he got to London the doctors there'd likely say he could have his bandages off. It's a plaguy shame this had to happen now. How long'll he be poorly again, mister doctor?"
    "He should not be moved for two weeks—three, if this fever does not slip down very quickly. I will come back tomorrow—
subito
—meantime you will find that the large lady—Mrs. Lubbage—is a famous nurse."
    "She don't look it—I'd as lief not trouble her," Dido said, wrinkling her nose at the thought of that kitchen.
    "
Senti,
young lady, she has the gift of healing, she knows about herbs and charms,
molto, molto,
" Dr. Subito said earnestly. He was a small, spare man, with a sallow complexion and an anxious expression; his large black mustaches were his most lively and vigorous feature. When he spoke about Mrs. Lubbage he glanced somewhat nervously behind him and made an odd, jerky sign with two fingers. "If it were not for the intervention of Mrs. Lubbage, many, many of my patients would not have recovered!" Under his breath he muttered, "And many, many of them would not have fallen ill,
presto alia tedesca!
"
    "Fire's going nice and sprackish now, sir," said Pelmett.
"And I've put the lame nag in the shippen with a bit o' feed, and reckon us'd better ride the other one back to the Manor, or ol' Mis'll be turble tiffy and bumblesome, axing where we've got to."
    Plainly he was dying to get away.
    "I will accompany you, my good fellows,
allegro vivace,
" the doctor said quickly. "Give the patient this draught, young lady, when he awakens, and another dose at morningtide. He should have light feedings—milk, eggs, white wine. No meat. I will return
domani
—tomorrow.
Addio!
To the re-see!"
    "Hey! Where am I to find eggs and wine and so forth in this back end?" Dido called after him, but he did not hear, or did not choose to.
    Dido suddenly found herself left alone with the sick man; the sound of hoofs died away outside and after that, strain her ears how she might, there was nothing to be heard at all, save a distant sighing of trees.
    "This is a fubsy kind o' set-out," she said to herself. "Still, no use bawling over botched butter—have to make the best of it. I'd as soon not tangle overmuch wi' that old witch next door though. Only thing is, how are we going to get summat to eat? Oh, well, maybe old Lady Tegleaze'll send some soup and jelly—or cheese and apples—no use fretting ahead. Queer old cuss
she
is, too—all those rooms in that great workus of a place, and she has to send us to a ken that ain't much bigger than a chicken coop."
    She made sure the Captain was sleeping peacefully, packed the hay tight under him, and straightened the
capes and carriage rugs over him. Next she brought in their valises, which would serve as tables or chairs, made up the fire, piled more hay in a corner for her own bed, and bolted the front and back doors of the cottage, which consisted of two ground-floor rooms with a loft above.
    Lastly Dido pulled a packet from the front of her midshipman's shirt and carefully inspected it. It was addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty and was covered in large red unbroken seals.
    "All hunky-dory," she muttered to herself in satisfaction. "Likely enough it was
you
as whoever rummaged over the carriage was a-looking for—seeing as how nothing else was stole. But they didn't find you, and so long as we're in this neck o' the woods, or till I can lay hands on some trustable chap to take you to London, you stays right inside my shimmy shirt."
    She replaced the packet, blew out the tapers, and curled up in her sweet-smelling nest.
    About half an hour later she heard somebody cautiously try first the front, then the back door.
    "Hilloo?" Dido called out. "Is that the baker's boy? One white, one brown, two pints o' dairy fresh
with
the top on, half o' rashers, and a dozen best pullets',
if
you please."
    Dead silence greeted