"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", by Gratiana Lovelace (2013-2014) (Done)

Ch. 16 (PG-13): Hannah's Long Forgotten Memories Awaken While Caring for Lissa

Dr. Ogilvy: “Do ye think that wise?  We do not want to jostle herrr arrrm. Perrrhaps a day of rrrest is needed”  [(2) right]. 

Hannah: “Nonsense!  We will be gentle. And Lissa needs to be clean in order to heal better.”    She states a bit officiously to the doctor.

Lissa looks at Mrs. Thornton a bit fearfully. Her mother had told her to behave for Mrs. Thornton--and to do as she is told and not make trouble, for Mrs. Thornton is being very kind to them.  But Lissa has never seen such a grand place as this from the inside--Thornton Manor.  She looks around the bathing chamber, not knowing what this room is--her never having seen one before.

Lissa:  “I’m tired--and my arm hurts.”  Lissa says as if to agree with Dr. Ogilvy. Then she admits warily.  “And I ain’t never had a bath.”  They always just washed over a basin in their one room home.

Hannah:  Hannah bends down and smiles at the little girl as she speaks softly to her--in a kind voice that had rarely been heard in the past, but is she is finding reason to employ it more recently.  “Now Lissa, after you have your bath over there …”  Hannah points to the bath tub.  “… and wearing one of my daughter’s nightgowns from when she was little like you--you’ll feel much more comfortable.”  Then a housemaid joins them.  “Lissa, this is Sarah, she will help me bathe you.”   Sarah smiles and nods at the girl.

Dr. Ogilvy: “Ach!  It does na take two people to bathe a wee gerrril.”  He rolls his eyes.

Hannah: Hannah Thornton turns to Dr. Ogilvy and asks him sharply.  “Dr. Ogilvy, had you ever bathed one of your children when they were little?” He looks sheepishly at her without replying.  “I thought so.”   She raises an amused eyebrow as a small smile curves upon her lips.   “Now Lissa, let’s have Dr. Ogilvy return to his medical practice so that you may have your bath then get into that nice warm bed and rest.”

So Dr. Ogilvy smiles warmly at little Lissa and Hannah Thornton as he leaves.

Dr. Ogilvy:  “Aye!  You have the powderrr I left you to mix in herrr milk to help with the pain.  It will also make herrr sleep.  I will rrreturrrn arrround tea time.”  He says as he waves farewell.

Hannah:  “We look forward to it.”    Hannah nods with a smile.  Hannah Thornton is ever so much happier when she is in charge of a situation--like now. 

Sarah and Mrs. Thornton carefully help Lissa out of her clothes, since her broken arm is splinted and painful.  Then Lissa sits in the tub and lets them wash her--because she is too tired from lack of sleep due to the pain she is in to argue with them.  They wash her matted blond hair and then the rest of her.  After she is rinsed with warm water, she stands up in the tub and Hannah wraps her in a large towel, drying her.

Sarah: Smiling at the little girl, Sarah says. “See ducky?  That twern’t so bad.”  Sarah dries Lissa’s hair with another towel.

Lissa:  “I didn’t mind it.”  Lissa says in a small voice. Then she looks at them needfully.   “Where’s the chamber pot?”

Hannah: “Over there.” 

Hannah points to a commode chair [(3)]  with a chamber pot underneath it when John recently had installed the tub--with water pipe to drain to an outside exit beyond the house--to create this bathing room out of a walk in closet.

Lissa:  “But that looks like a chair.”  Lissa says quizzically. For Lissa is only familiar with using chamber pots.

Sarah:  “I’ll help her, Mrs. Thornton.”  Maid Sarah puts the small child’s pink nightgown that had belonged to Fanny Thornton over Lissa’s head. They had already thought to cut out the left arm and opened the left side seam and added ties--to make it easier to get it on and off Lissa with her broken arm.  “Then I’ll fetch her some warm milk for her medicine while you put her to bed.”