Confound my perversity ! Why could n't I take Myra 's advice and keep Rose at home . It 's not fair that the poor child should suffer for my sinful over-confidence . She shall not suffer for it ! Pneumonia , indeed ! I defy it , '' and he shook his fist in the ugly face of an Indian idol that happened to be before him , as if that particularly hideous god had some spite against his own little goddess . In spite of his defiance his heart sunk when he saw Rose again , for the pain was worse , and the bath and blankets , the warming-pan and piping-hot sage tea , were all in vain . For several hours there was no rest for the poor child , and all manner of gloomy forebodings haunted the minds of those who hovered about her with faces full of the tenderest anxiety . In the midst of the worst paroxysm Charlie came to leave a message from his mother , and was met by Phebe coming despondently downstairs with a mustard plaster that had brought no relief . `` What the dickens is the matter ? You look as dismal as a tombstone , '' he said , as she held up her hand to stop his lively whistling . `` Miss Rose is dreadful sick . '' `` The deuce she is ! '' `` Do n't swear , Mr. Charlie ; she really is , and it 's Mr. Mac 's fault , '' and Phebe told the sad tale in a few sharp words , for she felt at war with the entire race of boys at that moment . `` I 'll give it to him , make your mind easy about that , '' said Charlie , with an ominous doubling up of his fist . `` But Rose is n't dangerously ill , is she ? '' he added anxiously , as Aunt Plenty was seen to trot across the upper hall , shaking a bottle violently as she went . `` Oh , but she is though . The Doctor do n't say much , but he do n't call it a ` chill ' any more . It 's ` pleurisy ' now , and I 'm so afraid it will be pewmonia to-morrow , '' answered Phebe , with a despairing glance at the plaster .
XXXXX exploded into a stifled laugh at the new pronunciation of pneumonia , to Phebe 's great indignation .
Charlie Doctor Mac Myra Rose deuce forebodings over-confidence perversity warming-pan