Somehow all the joy had gone out of the day for her , and out of her prospective trip . She stopped on the little bridge and gazed unseeingly at the ice-bound creek . Did Dr. Forbes really think she ought to give up her trip in order to take Freda Martin into her home and probably nurse her as well , since skilled nursing of any kind was almost unobtainable in Blythefield ? No , of course , Dr. Forbes did not mean anything of the sort . He had not known she intended to go away . Margaret tried to put the thought out of her mind , but it came insistently back . She knew -- none better -- what it was to be alone and friendless . Once she had been ill , too , and left to the ministration of careless servants . Margaret shuddered whenever she thought of that time . She was very , very sorry for Freda Martin , but she certainly could n't give up her plans for her . `` Why , I 'd never have the chance to go with Mrs. Boyd again , '' she argued with her troublesome inward promptings . Altogether , Margaret 's walk was spoiled . But when she went to bed that night , she was firmly resolved to dismiss all thought of Freda Martin . In the middle of the night she woke up . It was calm and moonlight and frosty . The world was very still , and Margaret 's heart and conscience spoke to her out of that silence , where all worldly motives were hushed and shamed . She listened , and knew that in the morning she must send for Dr. Forbes and tell him to bring his patient to Fir Cottage . The evening of the next day found Freda in Margaret 's spare room and Margaret herself installed as nurse , for as Dr. Forbes had feared , he had found it impossible to obtain anyone else . Margaret had a natural gift for nursing , and she had had a good deal of experience in sick rooms . She was skilful , gentle and composed , and Dr. Forbes nodded his head with satisfaction as he watched her .
A week later Mrs. Boyd left XXXXX Vancouver , and Margaret , bending over her delirious patient , could not even go to the station to see her off .
Blythefield Martin as at for in left night of to