Why, Mallie never said a word." "In any case, it is a fact—"

"But that is not what's wrong with her, is it?" my mother asked.

"No, not at all. I am afraid your wife has developed influenza, and it seems quite virulent. Do you know if she ever contracted influenza during the 1889-91 epidemic?"

"She did, but it didn't seem nearly this bad."

"It is quite possible she has been carrying the bug in her system since then," Dr. Hellweg said. "I also believe she is suffering from myocarditis… uh, that's inflammation of the heart. She also has severe bronchitis."

"This is simply all too much to take in, Doctor," my mother said. "You say she is carrying a baby, has the influenza, and now this heart condition an...

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