The woman in the next bed was crying too.
"It makes you think of 'eaven, don't it, miss," she said, with a sniff.
"If I was rich I'd leave all my money to a 'orspital; that I would!"
The speech suddenly reminded Ida of her own poverty, of which she had
not thought very much, for the need of money is not very keenly felt in
a hospital ward, where everything is "free, gratis, for nothing." The
time came when she was permitted to get up, and nothing could exceed
her amazement on finding herself so weak that her legs trembled under
her, and the walls and the floor seemed to rock and heave; but in a day
or two she was able to walk a little, and she at once begged permission
to help nurse the baby. It was against the rules, but it was very
difficult for anyone to resist Ida when she turned those great violet
eyes upon them imploringly: and much to her delight she was permitted
to hover about the cot and assist in an unofficial way. When the baby
was asleep, which was not particularly often, Ida was permitted to read
to some of the other patients; and, in fact, make herself generally
useful in an unobtrusive fashion.
This was all very well, but the day arrived when she was strong enough
to leave the hospital and once more face that world which has been
described as the best of all possible worlds, and no doubt is for those
who have plenty of money and friends, but which is not far from being
the worst of all possible worlds for those who have not. She took five
pounds from her little store and went to the sister.
"I am rather poor," she said, with a smile, "and I cannot afford more
than this. I wish it were a hundred times as much; indeed, no money
could repay your goodness and kindness to me, the wonder of which I
shall never cease to feel."
The sister looked at her keenly, but said very gently: "You can put it in the box in the hall when you go out; but you will
not go to-day. I will arrange for you to stop until to-morrow; in fact,
the baby--none of us--could spare you. I want you to have some ten with
me in my room to-night and a little talk, Miss Heron."
So Ida turned away quickly, that the sister might not see her tears,
and accepted the reprieve.