"Who will nurse her?" asked the doctor. "Where's that old woman who used to take care of you?"
"Mrs. Kay?" said Bert. "She's gone to Scotland; but I can nurse Prin."
"You!" Mr. Hurst shrugged his shoulders expressively. "It's a poor look-out, if she has only you to nurse her. I'll see if I can get the district nurse to come; but her hands are pretty full just now. Why didn't she stay where she was well off?"
He looked at Prin. She was beginning to talk excitedly again.
"Bert, Bert," she cried; "don't let them have it! It's mine, I tell you. See how it sparkles! They're diamonds, real diamonds, worth ever so much money. I only wish—"
Her voice fell and died away in confused murmurings.
"So," said the doctor, "her mind runs upon diamonds! Curious what a fascination they have for her sex! Many a woman is ready to sell her soul for them; but I should have thought this child was too young to have felt the temptation. But who knows! Perhaps the devil has thus baited his trap for her too."
He was speaking to himself rather than to Bert, who looked at him in wonder and made no reply, though the words inspired him with a vague uneasiness.
Mr. Hurst then gave Bert various plain and simple directions as to what he should do for his sister.
"Will she get better, sir?" Bert asked.