But these, she was informed, were generally those of poor people who did not pay her well.

Now in this instance her pay would be ample, for she, Mother Matilda, had promised her a splendid fee out of her private store, and for the rest, since no man doctor might enter there, who else was competent?
Not she or the other nuns, for none of them had been married save old Bridget, who was silly and had long ago forgotten all such things.

Not Emlyn even, who was but a girl when her own child was born, and since then had been otherwise employed.

Therefore there was no choice.
To this reasoning Emlyn agreed perforce, though she mistrusted her of the fat wretch, whose appearance poor Cicely also disliked.

Still, for very fear Emlyn was humble and civil to her, for if she were not, who could know if she would put out all her skill upon behalf of her mistress?
Therefore she did her bidding like a slave, and spiced her beer and made her bed and even listened to her foul jests and talk unmurmuringly.
The business was over at length, and the child, a noble boy, born into the world.