David wondered what awaited her elsewhere. He turned very cold—the illusion frightened him, for in health Lee had had no illusions.
"A good sort," murmured the man, "eh?"
"Yes," said the boy, faintly.
"She's got a friend here now—comes in to see her sometimes—but it must be very slow for her; not many women would have stopped. See that she's comfortable, Davie."
"I'll see to it, father."
Lee closed his eyes, and his thoughts wandered through the years to a morning when he followed a widow about Brighton, and overtook her on Marine Parade. The sun shone out to him again, and he heard the wash of the waves on the beach. He came back to David.
"If I don't pull through, it'll be an awful mess," he said. "God knows what I owe I I wish I'd put a bit by for you."
"You'll have plenty of time to put by in, father. Don't talk nonsense about not pulling through; in a month you'll be as strong as ever."
The woman who was called Julia opened the door, and whisked over to the dressing-table.
"Sorry to bother," she said; "there's another bill from the chemist's come in; I've got no money left."