Stormspell by Anne Mather

you are. abandoning your patient!'
    'How is he?' Ruth asked eagerly. 'Did Daddy send for Doctor Francis? I was so worried, but nobody came to tell me what was going on.'
    'Mmm.' Celeste looked sceptical. 'You were worried all right. You were fast asleep when I looked in on you a couple of hours ago.'
    'I know.' Ruth sighed. 'I stayed awake for ages, but then I must have closed my eyes. I don't remember anything else.' She moved her shoulders helplessly. 'So what happened? Where is—Mr Howard? Is he better?'
    'Me. I don't get tired. I suppose.' Celeste grumbled. not answering her. 'I stay awake all night, but no one asks how I am.'
    'Oh. Celeste!' Ruth came into the kitchen, spreading her arms apologetically. 'I'm sorry. I did want to help, but Daddy said—'
    'I know what your daddy said.' declared Celeste, nodding vigorously. 'He say you too young, he say you not old enough to know about such things. You want I should disobey your daddy and tell you things he don't want you to know?'
    Ruth kept her temper with difficulty. 'Celeste, please, tell me what's happened. Did Daddy send for Doctor Francis? If you don't tell me soon, I'll scream!'
    'Don't do that.' Celeste glanced apprehensively towards the door. 'Why you so interested, anyway?'
    'Celeste!'
    'All right, all right.' The black woman hunched her shoulders resignedly and turned back to the stove. 'Mr Howard, he pretty sick man. His arm. it infected. Doctor say it could be matter of life and death.'
    Ruth blanched. 'Doctor Francis has been here?'
    'He here.' said Celeste nonchalantly, nodding towards the door of the dining room. 'What you think I doing? I making breakfast for your daddy and the doctor.'
    'But Mr Howard!' exclaimed Ruth, resting her trembling hands on the table. 'Celeste, what do you mean? A matter of life and death?'
    Celeste hesitated a moment, and then, as if feeling compassion for the girl's obvious distress, she added offhandedly: 'I didn't say it was a matter of life and death. I said doctor say it could be.'
    Ruth felt suddenly weak. 'Celeste, what are you talking about?'
    The black woman shrugged. 'If n we hadn't called Doctor Francis like we did. your Mr Howard might have died.'
    Ruth sank down slackly into a chair. 'But he's not going to?'
    'No.' Celeste broke eggs into a basin and began beating them up. 'Leastways, it ain't so likely.'
    Ruth licked her dry lips. 'You said he was a sick man.'
    'He is. Pretty sick.' Celeste agreed, pouring the eggs into a pan. 'That fever, it draining all the strength out of him.'
    Ruth stared at her. 'You mean he's still got the fever?'
    'Yes'm.' Celeste could be obtuse when she chose. 'You want breakfast, too? Go see your daddy. I'll fetch it in.'
    'I don't want any breakfast.' said Ruth impatiently. turning to stare over her shoulder for a moment, before looking back at Celeste. 'Are they going to take him to hospital?'
    'Not to my knowing.' replied Celeste indifferently. 'You want some coffee?'
    'I've told you. I don't want anything.' said Ruth shortly, and Celeste arched her eyebrows.
    'You mighty worried about that man, ain't you, honey?' she observed tormentingly. 'I wonder what your daddy think about that.'
    'It's none of your business.' retorted Ruth irritably. and then sighed. 'Celeste, don't taunt me. I told you last night how I felt.'
    'So you did. so you did.' Celeste's lips tightened. 'Only, seems to me you letting this man's trouble get to you.'
    : I found him. didn't I?'
    'So what that make you?'
    'Nothing. I'm worried about him. that's all.'
    'He your responsibility, is that it?'
    'No.' Ruth's pale cheeks suffused with colour. 'I just want to know what's happening. Where is he? Is he still unconscious?'
    Celeste considered her words, and then expanded. 'Seems like he's sleeping right now. Doctor given him some injection to cool his blood. Ain't nothing they can do but wait. Leastways, that's what I heard.'
    Ruth expelled her breath unsteadily. 'And his arm?'
    'All swollen, it was. Oozing that