"O, he shall have it! He would rather have me nurse him than any other person. I will watch him all the time. I will sit by his bed all day and all night," added she, with womanly enthusiasm.
"You will wear yourself out. You are not strong enough to do without your sleep."
"I am very strong, sir. I do all the work in the house myself. I know how to make gruel, and porridge, and beef tea, and soup; and mon père shall have everything nice."
The doctor smiled, and felt sure that no better nurse could be provided for the sick man.
"Where is your mother?" he asked. "Is she living?"
"I have no mother. Leo has no mother. We are not André's own children; but we love him just the same, and he loves us just the same."
"But who was your mother?"
"I don't know."
"Doesn't André know?"
"He does not."