"But what is this 'hospital room' you were mentioning, where that poor creature is gone?" asked Christina. "I have never heard of it."
"That is one of papa's little quiet bits of 'work for the King,'" answered Mrs. Arundel. "He rents two rooms in Cromer Street, near us, where he has put a sort of Bible-woman nurse, who lives in one of them, and undertakes to nurse and care for any special sick one whom papa may send to her. She is able also to visit a few very poor invalids, who are without the means to pay for even a little attention, and to these her periodical visits are the greatest boon. She settles her own patients comfortably, and then goes out for an hour about eleven o'clock, and again later in the day, to make a bed for someone here, or a little gruel for someone there, and then home again almost before she is missed. We have had several very interesting cases, and the gratitude of the sick for a little kindly nursing is most touching."
"It is a beautiful plan," said Christina warmly, "and so very simple and natural."
"There is the carriage come for us," said Arthur, "and 'the Prince' has been so very interested in everything that he has forgotten to be as grand as he intended! What a pity; but he has enjoyed himself extremely notwithstanding."
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
SAVED FROM THE RIVER.
WHEN Dr. Arundel turned from seeing his wife on her way, he called a cab, and placing the poor woman and her baby in it, drove quickly to Cromer Street, directing the man to stop at a house near the middle.
His "nurse" was at home, and came directly to the cab door.
"I have brought you another patient," said Dr. Arundel cheerfully; "and a baby this time, too."