The presence of Mary Linden and the two children in the house probably saved Ruth from being more unhappy than she was.Little Elsie had made an arrangement with her to be allowed to take the baby out for walks, and in return Ruth did Elsie's housework.As for Mary, she had not much time to do anything but sew, almost the only relaxation she knew being when she took the work home, and on Sunday, which she usually devoted to a general clean-up of the room, and to mending the children's clothes.Sometimes on Sunday evening she used to go with Ruth and the children to see Mrs Owen, who, although she was not ill enough to stay in bed, seldom went out of the house.She had never really recovered from the attack of illness which was brought on by her work at the boarding house.The doctor had been to see her once or twice and had prescribed - rest.She was to lie down as much as possible, not to do any heavy work - not to carry or lift any heavy articles, scrub floors, make beds, or anything of that sort: and she was to take plenty of nourishing food, beef tea, chicken, a little wine and so on.He did not suggest a trip round the world in a steam yacht or a visit to Switzerland - perhaps he thought they might not be able to afford it.Sometimes she was so ill that she had to observe one at least of the doctor's instructions - to lie down: and then she would worry and fret because she was not able to do the housework and because Owen had to prepare his own tea when he came home at night.
On one of these occasions it would have been necessary for Owen to stay at home from work if it had not been for Mrs Easton, who came for several days in succession to look after her and attend to the house.
Fortunately, Owen's health was better since the weather had become warmer.For a long time after the attack of haemorrhage he had while writing the show-card he used to dread going to sleep at night for fear it should recur.He had heard of people dying in their sleep from that cause.But this terror gradually left him.Nora knew nothing of what occurred that night: to have told her would have done no good, but on the contrary would have caused her a lot of useless anxiety.Sometimes he doubted whether it was right not to tell her, but as time went by and his health continued to improve he was glad he had said nothing about it.
Frankie had lately resumed his athletic exercises with the flat iron:
his strength was returning since Owen had been working regularly, because he had been having his porridge and milk again and also some Parrish's Food which a chemist at Windley was selling large bottles of for a shilling.He used to have what he called a `party' two or three times a week with Elsie, Charley and Easton's baby as the guests.
Sometimes, if Mrs Owen were not well, Elsie used to stay in with her after tea and do some housework while the boys went out to play, but more frequently the four children used to go together to the park to play or sail boats on the lake.Once one of the boats was becalmed about a couple of yards from shore and while trying to reach it with a stick Frankie fell into the water, and when Charley tried to drag him out he fell in also.Elsie put the baby down on the bank and seized hold of Charley and while she was trying to get him out, the baby began rolling down, and would probably have tumbled in as well if a man who happened to be passing by had not rushed up in time to prevent it.Fortunately the water at that place was only about two feet deep, so the boys were not much the worse for their ducking.They returned home wet through, smothered with mud, and feeling very important, like boys who had distinguished themselves.
After this, whenever she could manage to spare the time, Ruth Easton used to go with the children to the park.There was a kind of summer-house near the shore of the lake, only a few feet away from the water's edge, surrounded and shaded by trees, whose branches arched over the path and drooped down to the surface of the water.While the children played Ruth used to sit in this arbour and sew, but often her work was neglected and forgotten as she gazed pensively at the water, which just there looked very still, and dark, and deep, for it was sheltered from the wind and over-shadowed by the trees that lined the banks at the end of the lake.
Sometimes, if it happened to be raining, instead of going out the children used to have some games in the house.On one such occasion Frankie produced the flat iron and went through the exercise, and Charley had a go as well.But although he was slightly older and taller than Frankie he could not lift the iron so often or hold it out so long as the other, a failure that Frankie attributed to the fact that Charley had too much tea and bread and butter instead of porridge and milk and Parrish's Food.Charley was so upset about his lack of strength that he arranged with Frankie to come home with him the next day after school to see his mother about it.Mrs Linden had a flat iron, so they gave a demonstration of their respective powers before her.Mrs Easton being also present, by request, because Frankie said that the diet in question was suitable for babies as well as big children.He had been brought up on it ever since he could remember, and it was almost as cheap as bread and butter and tea.
The result of the exhibition was that Mrs Linden promised to make porridge for Charley and Elsie whenever she could spare the time, and Mrs Easton said she would try it for the baby also.
