"He neglected you disgracefully; wrote me lightly. I don't wonder you told him not to call."
"I want him back."
"Then you shall have him back. You shall have everything you want, only go on getting better." She turned her face away from me.
"Have I begun?"
She made no answer, and I knew it was because she could not at the moment command her voice.
So I stayed quiet a little while. Then I began again to beg her to rid me of Lansdowne.
"After all, he is independent of his profession," she said at length thoughtfully, thinking of his feelings and how not to hurt them. "He married a rich woman."
"He would. And I am sure he has no children," I answered.
"Good heavens! How did you know? You are cleverer when you are ill than other people when they are well."
That is like Ella, too, she has an exaggerated and absurd opinion of my talent. Just because I write novels which are paid for beyond their deserts!
I don't know how she did it, I don't know how she accomplished half of the magical wonderful things she did for my comfort all that sad time. But I was not even surprised, a few days later, when I really was better and sitting up in bed; propped up by pillows, I admit, but still actually
