ery was slow, and during his languid convalescence, he found himself becoming sincerely attached to the Big Doc

nts, spared any possibility of suffering from the feelings of sub-friction, if not of antagonism, that inevitably stirred in his

s of these two women. Even the lazy consideration of the contrast between their types, was a comfort to Larry, and distracted his mind from the wall-paper (which suggested t

ink, rose-leaf cheek-and Mrs. Mangan, just a little over-blown, but heavily, darkly handsome, with deep-lidded shadowy eyes, and-as Master Coppinger pleased himself by discovering-a slight suggestion of a luxurious Ches

the English alphabet to disclose Mrs. Mangan's pronunciation of this word)-his hostess w

"I'm just telling him I'd be sorry to get a thump from that old wrist of his, he and the Do

would protest, "then why

n't be bothering me, like a good child!" Nurse would reply, with a sidelong flash of her c

n the town, and I might meet one of the women i

please don't bot

way to the chapel to get a sup of holy water. I

an that arose at tea-time, and followed, stimulated by the early darkness of January, in the firelight; the southern voices rising and falling like the flickering flames, becoming soon self-engrossed, and forgetful of the silent listener in the bed. Sometimes sleep would lap him in slow, stealthy peace, and the voices woul

talk, now one and now another cresting the changing wave. The fact that Larry was of their own religion, counterbalanced his belonging to an alie

Workhouse Infirmary! I was taking some flowers to Reverend Mother, and she was telling me what

rennan

Mrs. Mangan, if you ask me, I'd say 'twas the only time they were much use to their patients! Up at tha

ggle, and was mov

etween a stale mate and an old

er head at him triumphantly, turning aside to hide the smile of victory, and Larry thought how l

ig grey cat purring like an aeroplane engine on her knee. "The Doctor says no one but himself knows the way he's dragged al

underlay the arti

laring into the gloom at Mrs. Mangan's half-seen face, "why

s!" returned Mrs. Mangan, laughing at him. "Is that news to you? Lie dow

tterings. Nurse came to his be

ssively, "and I'll tell you someth

g down at him. "I was in charge of th' infirmary at Mellifont one time, and late one eveni

d, what's that?" e

can assure you, that as bad as you thought you were, you don't know what pain is beside what that boy suffered! Well, I sent for the doctor-a young brat of a fella that hadn't but just left college. 'He'll want an anaesthetic,' says he, 'I'll send down for Doctor ____' (I'll not tell you his name-Smith, I'll call him!) 'Do you give him some bra

t the flames branching upwards. The tale was resumed, in those cool and equable t

d expecting every minyute he'd collapse. And what do you suppose they were talking about? Fighting the

ghtly, and said: "I wo

e!" exclai

m would begin th' operation and go on for five minutes, and then he should stop and give the anaesthetic, and the ot

he could see the unshed tears gleaming in her eyes. "I was summoned to a private cas

s, I'll be bound!"

g over the tortured creature on the bed, and, far away, the pool of yellow light and in it those two-he sought