"So Nelly thinks," he said, and shook his head sadly, as if such news were too good to be true.
The nurse, besides being a kind motherly woman who dearly loved children, was also a person of strong common sense, and hence she saw Joe's difficulty in a moment.
"You have no children of your own, I suppose," she said.
"I had a son once," said Joe. "I hope he's still living."
"You do not love him, of course?"
In a moment Joe was on his feet.
"Love him!" said Joe, trembling from head to foot. "I'd lie down an' die for him this blessed moment if it would do him good."
"Ah! he has been a very good son, I expect," said the nurse.
Joe sat down again, and hid his face in his hands. After awhile he looked up and said with evident emotion,
"No, he was what people would call a bad son—a very bad 'un."