`` Kicked the bucket half an hour ago . I 've sent Jen Conover to ` phone for the undertaker and get some help up from the shore . You 're the doctor 's miss , ai n't ye ? Have a cheer ? '' Rilla did not see any chair which was not cluttered with something . She remained standing . `` Was n't it -- very sudden ? '' `` Well , she 's been a-pining ever since that worthless Jim lit out for England -- which I say it 's a pity as he ever left . It 's my belief she was took for death when she heard the news . That young un there was born a fortnight ago and since then she 's just gone down and today she up and died , without a soul expecting it . '' `` Is there anything I can do to -- to help ? '' hesitated Rilla . `` Bless yez , no -- unless ye 've a knack with kids . I have n't . That young un there never lets up squalling , day or night . I 've just got that I take no notice of it . '' Rilla tiptoed gingerly over to the cradle and more gingerly still pulled down the dirty blanket . She had no intention of touching the baby -- she had no `` knack with kids '' either . She saw an ugly midget with a red , distorted little face , rolled up in a piece of dingy old flannel . She had never seen an uglier baby .
Yet a feeling of pity for the desolate , orphaned mite which had `` come out of the everywhere '' into such a dubious `` here '' , XXXXX sudden possession of her .
Bless Is Was born died heard hesitated miss say took