"Not just yet," said the surgeon. "You are not strong enough, are you, Georgy? How is mamma?"
"I'll tell Mrs. St. John that you are here, sir!" interposed a respectable-looking woman, rising from a chair at the other end of the large room.
It startled Mr. Pym. He had not observed that any one was present. She went out and closed the door.
"Who was that, George?"
"It's Mrs. Brayford!"
"Oh, ay; Nurse Brayford. I heard of her from Mrs. Darling."
"Mamma won't let her be called nurse. She said I did not want a nurse. We call her Brayford. Have you seen Benja?" continued the lad, speaking better, now that the excitement arising from the doctor's entrance had subsided; but with the last words his voice insensibly dropped to a low tone.
"Seen Benja!" echoed Mr. Pym, in his surprise. "Do you mean Benja's tomb? It is a very nice one: on rather too large a scale, though, for my taste, considering his age."
"No," said George; "I mean Benja."
"Why, child, how could I see Benja? He is gone away from our eyes; he is safe in heaven."