Gora always felt vaguely sorry for her although she seemed
happy enough. At all events it was quite obvious that she did little
thinking except when she remembered to wish for a baby.
Gora wore the white uniform of a nurse, and a little cap with wings on the
coronet of her heavy hair. It was a becoming costume and made her eyes in
their dark setting look less pale and cold.
She had a secret contempt for most of the old conventions but she had
given her word to awaken Alexina the moment any change occurred, and she
reluctantly shook her sister-in-law's shoulder.
II
Alexina sprang out of bed on the instant.
"Mother?" she cried. "Is she worse?"
Gora nodded.
Alexina made a dart for the door, but Gora threw a strong arm about her.
Those arms had held more than one violent man in his bed. "Better wait,"
she said softly.
Alexina's body grew rigid as she slowly drew back on Gora's arm and stared
up at her. In a moment she asked in a hard steady voice: "Is my mother
dead?"
"Yes. It was very sudden. I had no time to telephone for the doctor; to
call you. She was sleeping. I was sitting beside her. Suddenly I knew that
she had stopped breathing--"
"Would you mind telephoning to Maria and Sally? Maria will never forgive
herself--but mother seemed so much better--"
"I will telephone at once. Shall I call Mortimer?"
"No. Why disturb him?"
Gora, watching Alexina, saw a curious remoteness enter the depths of her
eyes, and her own narrowed with something of her old angry resentment.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140