“Oh, of course, I want to see him quite well, ma’am, for though a bit ’arsh, a better master—”
“What other reason, Maria?”
“Well, ma’am, if I must speak, it is because I shall be glad when master’s down again, and nurse is gone.”
“Nurse? Stop a moment. She attended you at the hospital?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am,” said Maria, in a peculiar tone, which suggested neglect, ill-treatment, and all kinds of unfeminine behaviour; “she attended me. I was in her ward.”
“Well?”
“Oh, that’s all, ma’am.”
“It is not all, Maria, and I desire that you speak.”
“I don’t like to see a woman like that attending master.”
“It was the doctor’s orders, Maria.”