neck speed to get away from consequences, or to put a disagreeable
task as far behind as possible.

In the first place, Kathleen was permitted to remain with the Bingles
far beyond the date set for her departure in the custody of a new set
of parents. It so happened that on the very day selected for her
departure, which was early in March, Rutherford and Imogene came down
with a fever and a rash. Dr. Fiddler was summoned from the city. Just
as he entered the broad portals at the front of the house, two of the
nurse-maids, Stokes and Brown, walked swiftly down the back stairs
with their suitcases and bandboxes in their hands.

Mr. Bingle was notified that they wanted to see him at once in the
library. They appeared to be in a great hurry to catch a train for the
city. From time to time, while they waited for the master of the
house, they cast nervous, apprehensive looks in the direction of the
door through which they had entered the room. Their apprehensions
apparently were justified by the abrupt arrival upon the scene of
Wright and Quinlan, the other nurse-maids, both of whom were hot and
flushed and still in a state of frowsy preparation for a journey. They
too had their suitcases and bundles and they too were trying to
balance unfastened hats upon the top of agitated heads.

Mr. Bingle came into the room just in time to hear each of the four
accusing all of the others of trying to sneak off and leave her with
the bag to hold, or words to that effect. With his entrance, however,
each of the hasty nurse-maids was reminded of a dreadfully sick
relative in town and of the necessity for instant departure. What they
wanted of Mr. Bingle was their pay--and a reference.