“I wonder what makes me so happy! I love all the world, Lois! Did you ever feel that way?”
The light wing of a shadow brushed the face above her, and deep in its eyes darkled a something hidden there that was almost envy.
The voice went running on: “Suppose he should open his eyes suddenly to-night—conscious! Do you know what I would do? I would slip off this apron all in a minute, so he should see me and know me first of all. I have my hair the way he likes it. I wish I could do more for him! Love is service. I want to tire myself out doing things to help him. Why, only think! It was my fault he was hurt. I sent him away when it was breaking my heart to do it.”
“If he should know you to-day, dear,” Lois said, her face flashing into a smile, “it ought to help him get well. There is joy bubbling out all over you!”
“I’m so glad he’s not conscious now, for when he isn’t he doesn’t suffer. Sometimes last night he seemed to, and then I ached all over to suffer for him. I could laugh out loud through the pain, to think that I was bearing it for him! Oh, Lois, I haven’t understood. I see now what you love in this life here. It isn’t only bodies that you are curing; it’s souls—that you’re making sound houses for.”
Drawing Lois’s arm through hers, Margaret pointed to where the huge entrance showed, from the deep window. “Do you know, the first day we came in there together, I was the unhappiest girl in the world. It seemed as though I was being dragged into some dreadful black cave, where there was no sun, no flowers, nothing but ghastly sights and people that were dying! The first day I went with you through the wards I hated it. I wanted to shut my eyes and run away as far as I could from it!”
“I know that; I saw it.”
“But now that is all changed. I never shall see a body suffer again without wanting to put my hands on it and soothe it. Life is so much sweeter and deeper than I knew! It’s hard to be quiet. I’m walking to music. I must go around all the time singing. It seems wicked of me to be so happy when I know that it will be days and days yet before he can even sit up and let me read to him. But I can’t help it. I was so wretched all the time before, that the joy now seems to be a part of me. It seems to be his joy, too. He would be glad if he could know that, in spite of all I thought and everything I said, I love him now as he wanted me to, and that nothing ever can come between us again! Isn’t it time to go in yet? I can hardly wait for the hour!”
Lois looked at her watch. “It’s near enough,” she said. “Come. Dr. Faulkner is somewhere in the ward now, and I must get instructions.”