She promised to do so.
“It’s a good place.” His eyes and his voice grew softer than their wont in speaking of his father-in-law. “A bit of luck to be here.” He sighed luxuriously.
Said Melia, “You must take your time getting well, Bill.”
Eyes of suffering looked into hers. “I expect I won’t be right just yet.” They were still together, passing the time with delightful fragments of talk and with fragments of silence equally delightful when a nurse came importantly into the room to say that the Mayor had arrived unexpectedly to look round the hospital and to wish a happy Christmas to his guests.
Melia rose rather nervously. “I think I’ll be going, Bill.”
“Not yet, my dear.” The voice from the bed was calm and quiet. “We must let bygones be bygones. The times has changed.”
She was glad to hear him say that. And she had not told him yet of her father’s recent act of reparation. Should she tell him now? Was the moment favorable? Or had she better wait until——
The question, however, was already decided. Too late to tell him now. The door at the other end of the room was open and the Commandant had entered followed by his worship the Mayor.
“Only one bed in this room, sir,” said the Commandant. “A special case. Corporal Hollis.”
The Mayor looked calmly round. He didn’t see Melia who was hidden by a screen between the bedstead and the door. “I notice, ma’am, you’ve got another door yonder.” He pointed to the other end of the room. “Hope these new casements fit well.”