and I have been so ill; and no-nobody has c-ome near us!"
"Oh!" cried Katy, with horror, "nothing to eat since yesterday! How did it happen?"
"Everybody has been sick on our side the ship," explained the poor lady, "and I suppose the stewardess thought, as I had a maid with me, that I needed her less than the others. But my maid has been sick, too; and oh, so selfish! She would n't even take the baby into the berth with her; and I have had all I could do to manage with him, when I could n't lift up my head. Little Gretchen has had to go without anything; and she has been so good and patient!"
Katy lost no time, but ran for Mrs. Barrett, whose indignation knew no bounds when she heard how the helpless party had been neglected.
"It's a new person that stewardess h'is, ma'am," she explained, "and most h'inefficient! I told the Captain when she come aboard that I did n't 'ave much opinion of her, and now he'll see how it h'is. I'm
