Matthew and I are such kindred spirits I can read his thoughts without words at all . '' `` I do n't believe he 'll find the doctor at Carmody , '' sobbed Diana . `` I know that Dr. Blair went to town and I guess Dr. Spencer would go too . Young Mary Joe never saw anybody with croup and Mrs. Lynde is away . Oh , Anne ! '' `` Do n't cry , Di , '' said Anne cheerily . `` I know exactly what to do for croup . You forget that Mrs. Hammond had twins three times . When you look after three pairs of twins you naturally get a lot of experience . They all had croup regularly . Just wait till I get the ipecac bottle -- you may n't have any at your house . Come on now . '' The two little girls hastened out hand in hand and hurried through Lover 's Lane and across the crusted field beyond , for the snow was too deep to go by the shorter wood way . Anne , although sincerely sorry for Minnie May , was far from being insensible to the romance of the situation and to the sweetness of once more sharing that romance with a kindred spirit . The night was clear and frosty , all ebony of shadow and silver of snowy slope ; big stars were shining over the silent fields ; here and there the dark pointed firs stood up with snow powdering their branches and the wind whistling through them . Anne thought it was truly delightful to go skimming through all this mystery and loveliness with your bosom friend who had been so long estranged . Minnie May , aged three , was really very sick . She lay on the kitchen sofa feverish and restless , while her hoarse breathing could be heard all over the house . Young Mary Joe , a buxom , broad-faced French girl from the creek , whom Mrs. Barry had engaged to stay with the children during her absence , was helpless and bewildered , quite incapable of thinking what to do , or doing it if she thought of it . Anne went to work with skill and promptness .
`` Minnie May has XXXXX all right ; she 's pretty bad , but I 've seen them worse .
Carmody French Hammond Lynde Matthew May Spencer croup ipecac promptness