"My little Reg," she said, holding out her bandaged hands.
Regie ran to her, and put his arms round her neck. They clasped each other tightly. The doctor winced to watch her hands.
"It's all right, Auntie Hester," said Regie. "I love you just the same, and you must not cry any more."
For Hester's tears were falling at last, quenching the wild fire in her eyes.
"My little treasure, my little mouse," she said, over and over again, kissing his face and hands and little brown overcoat.
Then all in a moment her face altered. Her agonized eyes turned to the doctor.
In an instant Dr. Brown's hand was over Regie's eyes, and he hurried him out of the room.
"Take him out of hearing," he whispered to the Bishop, and darted back.
Hester was tearing the bandages off her hands.
"I don't know what has happened," she wailed, "but my hands hurt me so that I can't bear it."