“Has he not regained consciousness?”
“No,” answered she, in a whisper.
“What does the doctor say?”
Panna Helena moved her thin hand in sign that all was uncertain yet.
“This is the fifth day,” whispered she again.
“And the fever decreases,” said Panna Ratkovski.
Svirski wished to offer his services in watching the sick man; but Panna Helena indicated with her eyes a young doctor, whom he was not able to distinguish at once in the darkness, but who, sitting in an armchair near the table, with a basin and pile of iodine wadding, was dozing from weariness, waiting till another should relieve him.
“We have two,” said Panna Ratkovski, “and besides people from the hospital, who know how to nurse the sick.”
“But you ladies are wonderfully wearied.”
“It is a question here of the sick man,” answered she, looking toward the bed.