“Go to sleep, go to sleep.”
“I can’t go to sleep. You lie there and laugh while I lie here and suffer.”
“Why didn’t you say you were suffering? Do you want the morphine?”
“No, I don’t.”
An hour later Patience was roused from her first heavy sleep.
“Patience! Patience! Oh, my God! My God! My God!”
Patience stumbled out of bed and into her dressing-gown and slippers, shaking her head vigorously to dispel the vapours in her brain.
“Yes, yes!” she said. “I’m coming. Do please don’t make such a fuss. You’ll wake up everybody—”
“Not make a fuss! Oh, I wish you had it for a minute—”
Patience ran into the lavatory and turned up the gas. The night was very warm, and the door leading into Honora’s room stood wide. The light fell full on her face. Patience saw that her eyes were open.