"Yes, if
you are good."
Mandy hastily rose.
"But if you are not," continued the nurse severely, "it may be months.
Stay, Miss Haley, I am going to bring Mr. Cameron his afternoon tea and
you can have some with him. Indeed, you look quite done up. I am sure
all that work you have been telling me about is too much for you."
Her kindly tones broke the last shred of Mandy's self-control. She sank
into her chair, covered her face with her great red hands and burst into
tempestuous weeping. Cameron sat up quickly.
"What in the name of goodness is wrong, Mandy?"
"Lie down at once, Mr. Cameron!" said the nurse sternly. "Hush, hush,
Miss Haley! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Don't you know that you
are hurting him?"
She could have chosen no better word. In an instant Mandy was on her
feet, mopping off her face and choking down her sobs.
"Ain't I a fool?" she cried angrily. "A blamed fool. Well, I won't
bother you any longer. Guess I'll go now. Good-by all." Without another
look at Cameron she was gone.
Cameron lay back upon his pillows, white and nerveless.
"Now can you tell me," he panted, "what's up?"
"Search me!" said the nurse gaily, "but I forbid you to speak a single
word for half an hour. Here, drink this right off! Now, not a word! What
will Dr.
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