This wasn’t at all as she expected to find the shut-in! Instead of gloom, and tears, and the weakness of age, here were displayed all the opposite emotions and qualities. The woman who was forgotten did not appear to be an object of pity at all. She merely seemed out of step with the times.
“I’m sure you’re very welcome, deary,” said the old nurse. “Draw up the little rocker yonder. I always keep it for young company,” and Mary Boyle, who had had no young company up here for ten or a dozen years, spoke as though the appearance of a youthful face and form was of daily occurrence.
“You see,” spoke Helen, more confidently, “we are neighbors on this top floor.”
“Neighbors; air we?”
“I live up here, too. The family have tucked me away out of sight.”
“Hush!” said the little old woman. “We shouldn’t criticise our bethers. No, no! And this is a very cheerful par-r-rt of the house, so it is.”
“But it must be awful,” exclaimed Helen, “to have to stay in it all the time!”
“I don’t have to stay in it all the time,” replied the nurse, quickly.
“No, ma’am. I hear you in the night going downstairs and walking in the corridor,” Helen said, softly.
The wrinkled old face blushed very prettily, and Mary Boyle looked at her visitor doubtfully.