“Here always, Albert. What will you have now? The others had their tea two hours ago. You can have yours now, if you like.”
“No, nothing so warm as tea. A draught of that delicious lemonade. I am so thirsty.”
Elfie filled a glass from a pitcher of iced lemonade that she kept at hand, and then she lifted his head while he drank it.
“Ah, that is so refreshing,” he said, with a sigh of pleasure, as she laid him gently back on his pillow.
At that moment the surgeon in charge and Sister Agnes came up together.
“Well, you are looking much better this afternoon. I think the presence of this lady is a great restorative,” said the doctor, cheerfully addressing Goldsborough.
“So great a restorative that it will save me if anything can,” smiled Albert.
“Well now, we must look at your leg. And we must ask the lady to retire while we do so.”
Elfie hesitated, until Albert turned to her and said:
“Yes, darling, go. You need to be relieved from duty here for a little while, and now is your best opportunity. You shall return when they have done.”