On this occasion he slept longer than on the former one. And Elfie never moved and scarcely breathed, until she felt a hand laid lightly on her shoulder, and looking up saw Sister Agnes standing by her.
“Miss Rosenthal has sent your dinner, and also a box of necessaries, which I have placed in my room. Will you come now?” whispered the sister.
Elfie shook her head and pointed to the sleeping man, whose hand still firmly clasped her own.
And just at that moment, as if the sleeper dreamed or divined that she was asked to leave him, he started and closed his fingers upon hers with a convulsive grip.
“You see?” whispered Elfie.
“I see. I will keep your dinner warm and come again after a while,” said the sister, stealing softly away.
The hours crept slowly by and the afternoon waned towards evening.
At four o’clock the patients had their tea, but Albert did not awake.
At six o’clock the assistant surgeons in charge of the wards made their rounds. These rounds were always attended with some little bustle, and the bustle always awoke nervous sleepers. It awoke Goldsborough.
“Here still, my guardian angel,” he said, smiling gratefully on his watcher.