noon
I can send to Mrs. Hare to be your chaperon ; she would be delighted . '' `` Poor Sophy ! '' said Caroline ; `` I am very sorry to hear she is unwell ; but I think Taylor would take great care of her ; you surely need not stay , unless she is much worse . '' Mrs. Merton , who , tame as she seemed , was a fond and attentive mother , shook her head and said nothing ; but Sophy was much worse before noon . The doctor was sent for , and pronounced it to be the scarlet fever . It was now necessary to guard against the infection . Caroline had had the complaint , and she willingly shared in her mother 's watch of love for two or three hours .