Part 13 (2/2)

And she: ”Not at allnow”

Behind the stone pillar of the gateway is one dirty little patch of snow; I saw it even in the moonless darkness

The crown of the hill here holds the last snows, but for all that the spring s the trees and up and down the bracken slopes in the garden next door

There is no moon, there are no stars, no pro darkness the bulbs areI can smell what is not earth or rain or bark

The curtain has been drawn over No 11; the Sister holds the corners tightly against the -frame He is outside, so hts are lit to hide the twilight The Sister's eyes talk to ain as we make beds--yes, even bed No 11 with a little jaundice boy in it They let ht we had another concert in the ward

A concert de to whoet that a patient may be washed, fed, dressed but not talked to My old racious, but less docile

Afterwards heeled the beds back into their positions I buized

”I',” he smiled from his pillow

”You never do,” I answered

”You don't know ht as I looked down at hiain”

Indeed a Sister is a curious creature She is like a fortress, unassailable, and whose sleeping guns may fire at any ht that will serve h life, ie that to justify oneself is the inexcusable fault It is better to be in the wrong than in the right

A Sister has an ”intioes off duty; that is to say, it lies between 845, when she finishes her supper, and 10 o'clock, when she finishes undressing

That is why one Sister said to one in for culture”

I don't laugh at that To have an intimate life one must have a little time

Who am I that I can step in from outside to criticize? The hospital is not my life I am expectant

But for them here and now is the business of life