“You had better come in and say good-by to Mrs. Pelham,” she said then.
Nurse Ives entered the room. A moment later she stood by the sick-bed. Mrs. Pelham, with her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright, a strained, piteous expression round her trembling mouth, looked up at the nurse.
“Is that you, Nurse Ives?” she said.
“Yes, madam.”
“I am sorry you are going to leave me. I like to feel that the one who has been with my darling at the last is now with me.”
“For some reasons I am sorry to go, madam, but it is impossible for me to stay. I will wish you good-by now. Nurse Hester will do all she can for you—will you not, Nurse Hester?”
The strange nurse nodded but did not trouble herself to speak. She did not like Nurse Ives, and she was not going to conceal the fact.
Mrs. Pelham held out her trembling hand.
“Good-by,” she said.
The nurse turned and left the room. Barbara followed her on to the landing.