Mary Bennet : Pride and Prejudice

37.

"BAM BAM!" Someone knocked harshly. Everyone in the Gardiner house woken up due to the load noise.

Mary panicked a little as she ran down, still half a sleep. Emma started crying, Caroline was wide awake in her bed, Henry was consoled my his bid brother Charles who came down to resume the roll of man of the house and open the door with Mary behind him.

"Mary!" A panicked Susan was seen. "Mamma! Mamma!" She couldn't form worlds but pointed in panic.

Mary knew something had happened but was shocked to find out so soon. She hugged Susan calming her. She went with her as she asked Charles to keep an eye on the children.

"Mamma! Isn't.... Responding," she finally formed words when they reached the house.

"Calm down! Did you call for the physician?" She asked.

"No!" She panicked. "I just....i just..."

"Do not worry now," Mary went to the room to examine Mrs Polly who lied there unresponsive. She put her finger near her noise to check for breathing and with a little relief declared, "she's still breathing! Still breathing."

Then she rushed to a servant and commanded him to get a physician as soon as possible.

She took Susan in her embrace as she again examined Mrs Polly's face which was starting to turn cold.

"Have you called for your husband?"

"Yes, but....but he just left in the evening and I am not sure if my letter can reach him in time... or he can reach here in time!" She said sobbing.

"Oh, do not worry Susan," Mary warmed up her shivering body.

As soon as the physician came the ladies went outside to give him some privacy to assess the matter.

Susan was sobbing even more heavily, shivering in Mary's arms, helpless as both waited outside.

Then Doctor came out with a rather depressing look.

"How is she!" Susan demanded.

"She is alive," the physician said that brought a little hope in both the women. "B it not for long," he concluded as Susan fell to the floor sobbing.

"Her organs are shutting due to her age," the doctor explained to Mary as she thanked him profoundly, paid him and he left.

Then Mary went back to comforting Susan who just sat sobbing in front of her Mother.

"How can she leave me Mary!" She asked in agony. "I will have no one now!"

"Do not be like that!" Mary said angry. "Even thought I only met Mrs Polly a couple of times, her kindness...." She started crying. "And I know she will not forgive me if I let you believe you have no one in this world, for you have me!" She said as both the women fell crying in each other's embrace.

Simultaneously Mrs Polly's breathing and Susan's crying had stopped. Mary tried to feed her new friend some broth but could only force a sip or two. Mary had never been very friendly to anyone. Even in Longbourn, while All her sisters easily made friends with their neighbours she merely joined them and knew none of them would choose her over them. Except for Robert she thought.

Mr Wright was the only one who she thought of as a good friend, which was strange for he was a man. But she didn't care much about his gender and was happy for he would choose her before any of her sister's friendship. But what she didn't think of if he would choose her friendship over another woman.

She doubted if she is to call him a friend anymore for they had not seen each other for months now.

As Mary took care of dressing Mrs Polly to put her in her coffin as it was too much for Susan to go though, Charles along with Caroline walked in.