"He is not generally considered so, my sister."
She paid as little heed to my words as a nurse to the prattle of a child.
"You have moved," she said, "and this bandage is ruffled. You must try to lie quieter, for you have a nasty wound in your shoulder. I know, for I have been through the war. How came you by such a hurt now that peace has been declared?"
"The other man came by a worse one, for he is dead."
"Then the good God forgive you. But you must keep quiet. See—I will read to you."
And out came the book again in its devotional black cover. She read for a long while, but I paid no heed to her voice, nor fell under its sleepy spell. Presently she closed the pages with a pious look of reproach.
"You are not attending," she said.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I was wondering what cause you had to fall out with my agent, Mr. Sander, who is not so stupid as you think."