Mary hesitated and reddened:
"Oh, I wish Jamie would let me nurse him! You and I could do everything much better than a strange woman. D'you think he'd mind?"
Mrs. Parsons looked at her doubtfully.
"It's very kind of you, Mary. I'm afraid he's not treated you so as to deserve that. And it would exhaust you dreadfully."
"I'm very strong; I should like it so much. Won't you ask Jamie? He can only refuse."
"Very well."
Mrs. Parsons went up to her son, by whom sat the Colonel, looking at him wistfully. James lay on his back, breathing quickly, dull, listless, and apathetic. Every now and then his dark dry lips contracted as the unceasing pain of his head became suddenly almost insufferable.
"Jamie, dear," said Mrs. Parsons, "Dr. Radley says you must have a second nurse, and we thought of getting one from Tunbridge Wells. Would you mind if Mary came instead?"
James opened his eyes, bright and unnatural, and the dilated pupils gave them a strangely piercing expression.
"Does she want to?"