"I'm glad you've come. She keeps calling for you." Her voice was
the monotone of old, and, as unmoved as ever, she nodded to me and
then looked at Selwyn. "Is he a doctor? Did he come to see her?"

I explained Selwyn's presence and suggested that he wait for me while
I went to Mrs. Cotter. Beckoning him to follow, she went toward her
kitchen bedroom, but stopped to give warning of the two steps that
led down to it, and as she stopped I heard the low whimper of the
frightened child by her side and saw her footsteps drag.

"I want my mother! I want to go back to my mother! I don't want to
go 'way from my mother!"

Was it well to let her go back? Only a few minutes were left for
them to be together. Was it kind or cruel to keep them apart?
Uncertain, I looked at the group before me and saw Selwyn stoop and
take the child, a little girl of five, up in his arms.

"Your mother is going to sleep." His voice was low. "And we are
going to be quiet and not wake her. Jimmy will play with you, and
I--"

"Will you tell me a story?" Sleepily the child leaned against his
shoulder, one arm thrown over it. "Will you tell me a pretty story
about--"

As they disappeared through the door opening into Mrs. Gibbons's
quarters I went into Mrs. Cotter's room, but for a moment drew back.
I had learned not to shrink at much that once I would have run from,
but the gaunt body and ghastly face of the woman propped against