Part 63 (1/2)
”You are pale.”
”That is womanish; but I am not weak or faint, though.”
”Do you maintain your purpose?”
”Yes, certainly.”
”You had better take off your bonnet and shawl then. You would find them in the way.”
I obeyed, and went on to envelope myself in my ap.r.o.n. Dr.
Sandford looked on grimly. Very ill pleased he was, I could see. But then I laid my hand on his arm and looked at him.
”I am so much obliged to you for this,” I said earnestly. And his face softened.
”I am afraid it is wrong in me,” he remarked.
”If you thought it was, you would not do it,” I answered; ”and I hope I should not ask it. I am ready now. But Dr. Sandford, I want teaching, as to what I ought to do. Who will teach me?”
”I will teach you. But you know how to give a sick man tea or soup, I fancy, without much teaching.”
”There are other things, Dr. Sandford.”
”It will not be necessary. There are others to do the other things. Captain Gary has only some simple wounds to be dressed.”
”But there are others, Dr. Sandford? And I must know how to do all that the nurses do. I am not here to be in the way. I am not going to take care of my cousin only.”
”There is enough to do,” said the doctor; ”but, you will not like it, Daisy.”
Something in his wistful look at me, something in the contrast between merely seeing what he was afraid I should see, and the suffering itself which by the sufferers had to be borne, touched me keenly. My eyes filled as I looked at the doctor, but I think the purpose in my heart perhaps came out in my face; for his own suddenly changed, and with a ”Come, then!” - he gave me his arm and led the way upstairs and into another succession of rooms, to the ward and the room where my cousin Preston lay.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE HOSPITAL
A clean, quiet, airy room, like all the rest; like all the rest filled with rows of beds, the occupants of which had come from the stir of the fight and the bustle of the march, to lie here and be still; from doing to suffering. How much the harder work, I thought; and if it be well done, how much the n.o.bler. And all who know the way in which our boys did it, will bear witness to their great n.o.bleness. Patient, and strong, and brave, where there was no excitement to cheer, nor spectators to applaud; their fort.i.tude and their patience and their generous self-devotion never failed nor faltered, when all advent.i.tious or real helps and stimulants were withdrawn, and patriotism and bravery stood alone.
From the turn of Dr. Sandford's head, I knew on which side I might look to see Preston; and as we slowly pa.s.sed up the long line of beds, I scanned breathlessly each face. Old and young, grim and fair, gentle and rough; it was a variety. And then I saw, I should hardly have known it, a pale face with a dark moustache and a thick head of dark, glossy hair, which was luxuriant yet, although it had been cropped. His eyes were closed as we came up; opened as we paused by his bed-side, and opened very wide indeed as he looked from the doctor to me.
”How do you do, this morning, Gary?” said my conductor.
”Confoundedly -” was the somewhat careless answer, made while examining my face.
”You see who has come to look after you?”
”It isn't Daisy!” he cried.
”How do you do, Preston?” I said, taking hold of the hand which lay upon the coverlid. He drew the hand hastily away, half raising himself on his elbow.
”What have you come here for?” he asked.