But Gregory stood just inside the door with his head bent low, and
saw no further.
"Come nearer! I'll turn the lamp up a bit, that you can have a look at
her. A pretty thing, isn't it?" said the landlady.
Near the foot of the bed was a dent in the crimson quilt, and out of it
Doss' small head and bright eyes looked knowingly.
Then Gregory looked up at what lay on the cushion. A little white, white
face, transparent as an angel's with a cloth bound round the forehead, and
with soft hair tossed about on the pillow.
"We had to cut it off," said the woman, touching it with her forefinger.
"Soft as silk, like a wax doll's."
But Gregory's heart was bleeding.
"Never get up again, the doctor says," said the landlady.
Gregory uttered one word. In an instant the beautiful eyes opened widely,
looked round the room and into the dark corners.
"Who is here? Whom did I hear speak?"
Gregory had sunk back behind the curtain; the landlady drew it aside, and
pulled him forward.
"Only this lady, ma'am--a nurse by profession. She is willing to stay and
take care of you, if you can come to terms with her."
Lyndall raised herself on her elbow, and cast one keen scrutinizing glance
over him.
"Have I never seen you before?" she asked.
"No."
She fell back wearily.
"Perhaps you would like to arrange the terms between yourselves," said the
landlady.
Pages:
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367