"Of course, of course! God bless you, my dear! I might have known what
was in that good, grateful heart of yours. See here, I've made it out
for a thousand pounds. That's five hundred for you and five hundred for
me--and don't you say a word to stop me; for I'm only too grateful for
the idea. It will cool me down; and upon my word, I feel so excited, so
above and beyond myself that I want some safety-valve like this, or I
should fall to dancing in the hall and so disgrace myself and the noble
profession to which I belong."
With the folded cheque in her hand Ida took him up the many stone steps
to the Alexandra ward. The gentle-eyed sister, who had parted from her
so reluctantly, was naturally surprised to see her return so soon, and
accompanied by a fatherly and prosperous old gentleman, who kept close
to her as if he were afraid she might be spirited from him.
"I have come back to--to say good-bye again, sister," said Ida, her
voice faltering a little, but her eyes beaming as they had not beamed
for many a day; "and I want to give you something, something for the
hospital--it is from my dear friend here, Mr.
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