Dot turned her face to Miss Lambert and whimpered weakly, "Do I have to walk upstairs?"
Miss Lambert smiled. "No, honey, the boy is getting the stretcher ready."
Eddie walked into the room. The nurses stared at him.
"The man at the switchboard sent me up," he explained, rapidly. "He asked me to carry his half of the stretcher. He says his rheumatism is too bad tonight."
He rushed to Dot, but the nurses surrounded him, and he and Dot simply exchanged a smile.
It was cold now. Freezing cold. They bundled her in blankets. Her teeth chattered. Her head ached. It was cold, cold.
The darkness. Her bed. Eddie's kiss.
"What time is it?" she said, weakly.
"A little after four. Good night, Dot."
"Good night, sweetheart."
Sleep.
