Jennie passed behind her mother with the tray. She gave me a half-veiled glance as she did so. Then, almost imperceptibly, she brushed her mother's shoulder with her lips.
And well, I thought, she might!
"Jennie been reading to you?" said Madge.
"No, we've just been talking."
"Well, you'll have somebody else to talk to the day after to-morrow. We didn't want to trouble you with the affairs of this world when you were at death's door, but who do you think's coming?"
I made a great effort. "Animal, vegetable or mineral?"
"Angel, whichever that is," said Madge.
"I've angels enough about me."
"Pooh!... Julia Oliphant's coming. So you'd better get your colour back in case she wants to paint that portrait here."
With which comforting words she took up my bowl of quite fresh flowers and marched off to get some more.