He smiled at her, after the painful swallowing was over.
'Why!--you're so like mother, Pamela!'
He was thinking of the picture in the 'den.' She raised his hand,
and kissed it--determined to be brave, not to break down.
'Where's Broomie?' he whispered.
'She'd like to come and see you, Dezzy. Dezzy, darling!--I was all
wrong. She's been so good--good to father--good to all of us.'
The boy's eyes shone.
'I thought so!' he said triumphantly. 'Is she up?'
'Long ago. Shall I tell her? I'll ask Nurse.'
And in a few more minutes Elizabeth was there.
Desmond had been raised a little on his pillows, and flushed at
sight of her. Timidly, he moved his hand, and she laid hers on it.
Then, stirred by an impulse that seemed outside her will, she
stooped over him, and kissed his forehead.
'That was nice!' he murmured, smiling, and lay for a little with his
eyes shut. When he opened them again, he said--
'May I call you Elizabeth?'
Elizabeth's tender look and gesture answered. He gazed at her in
silence, gathering strength for some effort that was evidently on
his mind.
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