"Michael has gone away." she said, softly, steadying her voice with great care. "He has gone where he will be well—and his heart sound and strong."
She was wholly unprepared for the children's response. It was so unexpected, in fact, that for the moment she tottered perilously near the verge of hysterics. The children actually grinned; while Bridget remarked, with a chuckle:
"Ye are afther meanin' that he didn't come back—that's what!" And then she added, as an afterthought, "He said to tell ye 'God bless ye,' Miss Peggie."
Margaret MacLean did not know whether to be shocked or glad that the passing of a comrade had brought no sign of grief. Instead of being either, she went on picking up the primroses and wondering. As for the children, they lay back peacefully in their beds, their eyes laughing riotously. And every once in a while they would look over at one another, giving the funniest little expressive nods, which seemed to say: "I know what you're thinking about, and you know what I'm thinking about, so what's the need of talking. But when is it going to happen?"
The House Surgeon brought up her mail; it was an excuse to see her again before his official visit. "Are the children very much broken up over it?" he asked, anxiously, outside the door.
For answer Margaret MacLean beckoned him and pointed to the eight occupied cots—unquestionably serene and happy.
"Well, I'll be—" began the House Surgeon, retiring precipitously back to the door again; but the nurse put a silencing finger over his lips.
"Hush, dear! The children are probably clearer visioned than we are. I have the distinct feeling this morning of being very blind and stupid, while they seem—oh, so wise."
The House Surgeon grunted expressively. "Well, perhaps they won't take your going away so dreadfully to heart—now; or theirs, for that matter."
"I hope not," and then she smiled wistfully. "But I thought you told me last night we were all going together? At any rate, I am not going to tell them anything. If it must be it must be, and I shall slip off quietly, when the children are napping, and leave the trustees to tell."