A TALE OF THE FRANCO-ENGLISH WAR NINETY YEARS AGO.
By AGNES GIBERNE, Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "The Girl at the Dower House," etc.
CHAPTER VI.
Three or four more days of strain, and then the abscess in the ear broke, causing speedy relief. The first thing that Roy did was to fall into a profound sleep, which lasted some hours.
When he woke up, feeling markedly better, his murmur was for "Den!" as usual; and since no reply came, he said "Den!" more loudly.
Then he took a good look round. The light from the window was getting dim, and the pain in his ear was gone. He saw Denham near, leaning back in the only pretence at an easy-chair which the room could boast of. Ivor's head was resting against the wall, and he seemed to be in a heavy slumber. Boys of twelve or thirteen are not always thoughtful about other people; but an odd feeling came over Roy, as he noted the fine-looking young soldier in that attitude of utter weariness. All these days and nights of his illness he had actually never once seen Ivor asleep until now.
"He must be tired, I'm sure," Roy said aloud. "But I think I'm hungry. I wish he would wake up."
The room door opened very slowly and softly, and Roy's eyes grew round with astonishment. Nobody entered this infected place except the doctor and the old Frenchwoman in the mornings, and the latter always got away as fast as she could. This new-comer seemed to be in no hurry. She stepped inside, closed the door, and advanced towards the bed. There she stood still to look at Roy; and then she turned to gaze pityingly at Ivor.
Roy stared hard, fascinated. She was quite a girl, perhaps two or three years older than Polly. She was very slight, with a plain neatly-fitting dress. The lighted candle in her hand threw a strong glow upon her face. It was a particularly sweet face, delicate and gentle; and it would have been exceedingly pretty, but for the very evident ravages of a long-past attack of small-pox. There were no "pits" on her skin, but a certain soft roughness characterised the whole, as if, once upon a time, it had been covered with pits. Now it was pale, and the features were even, while short black hair curled over a wide forehead, and the dark eyes were full of an intense sadness. Even Roy could not but see that great sadness. As he looked at her she looked at him, and then she sighed.