“I shall go in a couple of hours,” said the nurse. “I am only waiting to see Dr. Tarbot and to pack one or two of my things. Ah, I think I hear the doctor’s step on the stairs.”
The woman stood in the shadow, and the doctor, without seeing her, entered the sick-room. He stayed there for a few moments and then came out again, Barbara accompanying him.
“Is that you, nurse?” he said.
“Yes, sir. I have waited to speak to you. I should like to say a word before I go.”
“All right, I can attend to you now. Good night, Miss Evershed. I hope you will go to bed and have a good sleep. Nurse Hester can look after the patient. There is nothing to be alarmed about in her condition—she is suffering from shock and fever. These symptoms will soon pass off.”
Barbara reentered the room, and Nurse Ives and Dr. Tarbot walked down the passage together.
“So you have quite made up your mind to go?” he said to her.
“Yes, I leave to-night. I thought I ought to tell you that I had the coffin screwed up.”
“Indeed! Is that not rather soon?”
“Unmistakable signs of mortification have already set in.”