I'll ask him to call."
"Very well, ma'am; I shall be glad of the place."
"Then it is settled. You can come at once?"
"I must arrange to put my baby out to nurse, ma'am."
The lady's face clouded. But following up another train of thought, she
said--
"Of course you must arrange about your baby, and I hope you'll make proper
arrangements. Tell the woman in whose charge you leave it that I shall
want to see it every three weeks. It will be better so," she added under
her breath, "for two have died already."
"This is my card," said the lady--"Mrs. Rivers, Curzon Street,
Mayfair--and I shall expect you to-morrow afternoon--that is to say, if
the doctor approves of you. Here is one-and-sixpence for your cab fare."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"I shall expect you not later than four o'clock. I hope you won't
disappoint me; remember my child is waiting."
When Mrs. Rivers left, Esther consulted with Mrs. Jones. The difficulty
was now where she should put the child out at nurse. It was now just after
two o'clock. The baby was fast asleep, and would want nothing for three or
four hours. It would be well for Esther to put on her hat and jacket and
go off at once. Mrs. Jones gave her the address of a respectable woman who
used to take charge of children. But this woman was nursing twins, and
could not possibly undertake the charge of another baby.
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