The Blind Side Read Online Free Page A

of untidy grey hair, and a large port-wine mark all across the left side of her face. In spite of the heat of the day she was shrouded in an old Burberry. A black felt hat of uncertain shape was tipped well over on one side of her head. To the other she clutched a faded blue crochet shawl with a border which had once been white.
    Beholding Lee, her mouth fell open.
    â€œOh, Miss Fenton—”
    Lee felt as if everyone in the building was in a conspiracy to prevent her from having that nice cold bath. She prepared to be short with Mrs. Green.
    â€œOh, Miss Fenton—I thought perhaps I’d just catch Miss Craddock—”
    Lee shook her head.
    â€œShe’s gone.”
    Mrs. Green leaned against the door jamb. She groaned and shut her eyes.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?”
    â€œI do feel that bad. I was going to ask if I might set down for a minute.”
    There was nothing for it. Lee stood back without any very hospitable feeling.
    Mrs. Green swayed limply to one of the hall chairs and sank down upon it with another groan. A glass of water was not welcomed with any enthusiasm. She touched it with a shrinking lip, and murmured in the manner of one about to swoon,
    â€œIf Miss Craddock had a mite of brandy—”
    Lee wondered just how bad the woman was, and then scolded herself for being harsh. The brandy sounded suspicious, but under a hastily switched on light Mrs. Green really did look rather ghastly. Lee said with a catch in her breath,
    â€œWhat is it? Won’t you tell me? Shall I call Rush?”
    She could have administered no sharper restorative. At the porter’s name Mrs. Green’s drooping head came up with a jerk.
    â€œHim?” she said. “Why, he hasn’t got any ’uman feelings, Rush hasn’t—thinks no one can’t enjoy bad health except that lazy old lie-abed wife of his.” Her voice dropped into a sob. “Oh, miss, you won’t tell him. I’ll get the sack for sure if you do.”
    â€œFor being ill?” said Lee.
    Mrs. Green sniffed.
    â€œHe hasn’t got ’uman feelings. Last time I had one of me turns he carried on something shocking. ‘And I suppose you think I do it to enjoy myself, Mr. Rush,’ I said, and he took and told me that if I did it again I could go and enjoy myself somewhere else. And all I done was arst for the loan of a mite of brandy. ‘Just you take a drop of brandy when you get one of your turns, Mrs. Green, and it may be the saving of you.’ That’s what they told me in the ’orspital. I suppose Miss Craddock hasn’t left a drop?”
    â€œI’m sure she hasn’t,” said Lee.
    â€œThen I’ll be getting along,” said Mrs. Green in a voice of gloom. “The sooner I get along and into my bed the better, because this isn’t only the beginning of it, this isn’t. Twenty-four hours my turns last, regular. There isn’t nothing you can do for them neither let alone a drop of brandy that eases the pain. Right up in the top of my head it starts, and that violent no one ’ud credit it, not if they hadn’t had it like what I have, and down it goes till it’s through and through me. Grips my heart something cruel it do, and if I don’t get home before it comes to that I’m liable to faint right off. Many’s the time I’ve been picked up and taken home for dead.” She heaved a heavy sigh and got to her feet. “I done the stairs this morning. Mr. Rush can say what he likes, but I done them. And Mr. and Mrs. Connell’s away, and I’ve cleaned up after them and no business of Mr. Rush’s, and if he’s got anything to say about my taking a day off, it’s a sinful shame, and I hope there’s some that’ll speak for me. I wouldn’t mind going to Mr. Craddock about it. It’s him that’s master here, and not that upstart of a Rush, when all’s said and