CHAPTER XIX
"There—take a little water—you're much better now!" said the nurse, soothingly.
The patient swallowed greedily the cooling drink handed to him, and, tired even by that small effort, fell back on his pillows exhausted.
"Where am I?" he inquired of the comely young woman, who in neat service uniform, hovered about the bed.
"You're in St. Mary's Hospital."
"In New York?" he queried.
"No—San Francisco——"
He was too weak to question further, but his hollow blue eyes followed her as she moved here and there, attending skilfully and swiftly to the duties of the sick room. Presently he made another venture:
"Have I been ill long?"