Oddfellow's Orphanage Read Online Free Page B

Delia has come to fetch you!” the headmaster announced.
    “Is it one of the other girls, dear?” Nurse Effie asked, looking down at Delia’s worried face.
    Delia nodded.
    “Give me a minute,” Nurse Effie said. She disappeared into her room and came back shortly carrying a large bag. “I’ll take care of everything!” Nurse Effie whispered to the headmaster. “Don’t worry!” Then she took Delia’s hand, which made Delia feel instantly better, and they started off down the hall.
    When they reached the little-girls’ bedroom, all the bedside lamps were glowing and Ava’s finches were chirping nervously. The other girls were awake now, and everyone was gathered around Ava.

    “She’s shivering, but she’s burning up!” Imogen cried as Nurse Effie hurried to Ava’s bedside.
    Nurse Effie placed a thermometer in Ava’s mouth. “I know just what’s the matter.” She turned to the ring of little girls. “I need something from the garden—something very important. Two of you will have to fetch it for me.”
    Delia, having made up her mind to be her bravest self, looked at Imogen, who nodded at her. They stepped forward.
    “We’ll go,” Imogen said.
    “Good,” said Nurse Effie. “Do you know the plant with the little red flowers that grows in the back of the garden?”
    The girls nodded.
    “Good,” said Nurse Effie. “Fetch me one leaf and one flower. Now hurry!”
    As Delia and Imogen raced down the hall, they nearly ran right into a tall figure in the hallway. It was Headmaster Bluebeard. “I just couldn’t go back to sleep,” he said, his forehead wrinkled with worry. “How is the sick one?”
    “It’s Ava. We’re off to fetch a flower for the nurse,” Imogen said. “I think it’s for medicine.”
    “Take my lantern,” the headmaster said, placing it over Imogen’s arm.
    The girls ran lightly down the staircase and to the front of the house. When they opened the front doors, the air outsidewas inky black. Imogen lifted the lantern and Delia followed, so focused on their mission that she barely noticed the darkness. They made their way through the garden, all the way to the back row. Spying the small green leaves and vermilion petals they wanted, Delia pointed excitedly. She carefully plucked one flower and one leaf.
    “Good eyes!” Imogen whispered.

    Delia’s hands were shaking, but she held the plant gently all the way to the house. Delia and Imogen hurried back through the halls and up the stairs. They burst through the bedroom door, where the headmaster had joined the group around Ava’s bed. Delia placed the flower and leaf in Nurse Effie’s hand.
    Nurse Effie ground the plant with a mortar and pestle that came from her bag. She added drops of colored liquids from tiny glass bottles, and finally filled a small silver spoon with the red potion. “Here you are, dear,” she said as she lifted it to Ava’s lips.
    Ava swallowed.
    Delia wrote in her notebook and held it up to the nurse.

    Nurse Effie replied, “I think she will. I hope she will.”
    At that moment, Ava stopped shivering. Her eyes opened, and Delia could tell that Ava could see her. “What happened?” Ava asked, looking around.
    “The worst Summer Fever I have ever seen,” Nurse Effie replied with a tired smile. “And your friends brought the remedy.”
    Delia smoothed Ava’s hair back and smiled at her friend.
    Headmaster Bluebeard looked terribly relieved. “Hooray!” he said softly, and then added in a loud whisper, “And good work, Imogen! Good work, Delia!”
    “She
does
still need her rest now, my dears, as do we all,” Nurse Effie said. “So everyone try their best to get a little bit more sleep.”
    One by one, the little girls padded back to their beds. Delia closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but her covers were still too warm and she was just too wide-awake. Delia turned on her lamp and looked over at Imogen, who winked sleepily before falling fast asleep.
    Delia quietly propped her