Adeline Price was staring at Henry.
'Why did you come?' she said reproachfully. 'I thought I told you to go and wait for me at the hotel?'
The doctor smiled.
'No doubt Mr. Brodrick was anxious,' he said smoothly, 'and perhaps as he is here it would be more satisfactory if he just popped his head round the door and said goodnight to his mother. He would know then that she was quite comfortable.'
'Yes, I should like to do that,' said Henry.
Adeline Price frowned.
'Is it wise?' she said. 'Wouldn't it upset her?'
'I don't think so,' said the doctor; 'it might be just the right touch. Of course we shall give her a small sleeping draught, as it's her first evening and everything will seem a little strange.'
'I'll wait for you in the fiacre,' said Adeline Price abruptly. 'No point in my going up there again.'
She swung out of the room, a tall, confident figure in her grey coat and gown. Henry followed the doctor upstairs. The corridors were of shiny wood, scrubbed clean, and carpetless. The walls were green, like the uniforms of the nurses. A young nurse at the top of the stairs smiled at him.
She looked kindly, sympathetic. Henry clung to this like a straw.
'Are many of the nurses young?' he asked. 'That one who passed, will she have much to do for my mother?'
'The matron would tell you that better than I could,' said the doctor. 'I can make enquiries for you, of course. Number 34. This is your mother's room.'
He tapped on the door. It was opened by a stout, middle-aged nurse in glasses.
'What is it?' she said sharply. 'Oh, it's you, doctor; I'm sorry. Will you come in?'
Doctor Wells murmured in her ear.
'Mr. Brodrick,' he said, 'just come to say goodnight to his mother. He won't stay more than a few minutes.'
'All right,' said the nurse, 'but I want to get her washed and settled down for the night as soon as possible. We're short-handed this evening.'
'It's only eight o'clock,' said Henry. 'My mother's been used to staying up until midnight or after.'
The nurse began to speak, but the doctor cut her short. 'It's only for tonight,' he said. 'Tomorrow she will be with the others, leading quite a normal life.'
Henry went into the room. It was green like the corridor, but had a large window, and there were coloured mats upon the floor. The curtains were yellow, with green flowers upon them. The room was smaller than he had imagined. There was one easy chair in the corner. His mother was sitting up in bed, counting some money in her bag. She did not see him come in. She was scattering coins over the bedclothes, and talking to herself. Her hair hung in a cloud over her shoulders, silver white. Suddenly she saw him, and held out her arms.
'My darling,' she said; 'they told me you had gone away, that I couldn't see you.'
He bent over the bed, and took her hand.
'I thought I would just come along and say goodnight,' he said, She nodded her head, and then winked, pointing to the door.
'Such extraordinary people,' she whispered. 'I think they're all mad. The maid, I'm sure she's a nurse, insisted on taking my temperature. I suppose it's one of these new hydros I've heard about, but I never heard that the casino had anything to do with one before. Mrs. Price says I can go to the roulette rooms in the morning.'
'Yes, dear.'
'Is it all going to be very expensive? You know what a fool I am about money.'.
'No, darling. I'm arranging for that.'
'Dear boy, so good to me always. But I should have been quite all right at the villa, you know. There was no need for you to fuss.' She tumbled her coins back into her bag. 'Mrs. Price says they have a queer system here,' she said. 'They give you so many chips, and you don't have to give up your money in exchange.
Sounds crazy to me. What about the boys, Henry darling? Will somebody remember to feed the boys?'
'What boys?'
'The dogs, sweetheart. They'll miss me so, they won't understand why I don't come back. A week will seem a long time.'
Henry did not say anything. He stood there, holding his mother's hand.
'Put Johnnie's photograph on the mantelpiece,' she said suddenly, 'so that it faces me. Yes, that's better. He always looked so sulky in uniform, and so lovable… Henry.'
'Yes, mother.'
'Take care of that boy of yours. I didn't take care of Johnnie.' She was staring up at him, her green eyes wide and frightened. 'I can't forget it, you know,' she said; 'that's why I go to the casino. One must do something. John was such a darling-your father, I mean. So gentle, so kind. He understood so much. I've been very lost without him, very lonely. You were all such little boys when he died.
Sometimes I think it would have been better if I'd married again.' Then she smiled, she ran her fingers through her hair. 'What an idiot I am!' she said, 'raving on like an old lunatic. I tell you what, Henry. I'm damned if I'm going to let these people get my money, even if their system is a new one. I'll show them how to play roulette. They won't get the better of me here as they did at the casino.'
The nurse came in, and stood by the bed.
'Now, Mrs. Brodrick,' she said, 'we've got to think about that big wash, haven't we?'
Fanny-Rosa winked at Henry.
'Such a fool!' she whispered; 'treats one like a baby. What does it matter though, if it keeps her amused?'
Henry kissed the top of her head. He knew he would never see her again.
'Goodnight, darling, and sleep well,' he said.
For a moment she clung to him, and then she laughed, and let him g.
'Life is so amusing,' said Fanny-Rosa; 'try not to look serious, Henry boy. Thinking never did anybody any good.'
She followed him with her eyes as he went out of the room…
The doctor was still waiting outside the door.
'You see,' he said, 'she is quite comfortable, quite settled. There is nothing whatever for you to worry about.
And I understand Mrs. Price has made certain arrangements for her extra comforts.'
'Thank you,' said Henry, 'thank you… yes.'
He shook hands with the man, he took his hat and stick. He climbed into the waiting fiacre.
Adeline Price was sitting in the corner.
'I paid the other one,' she said. 'It seemed pointless to keep the two. Well, did she seem all right?'
'Yes,' he said, 'yes, I think so.'
The driver whipped up his horse. They drove away down the long, dark avenue.
'You must be very tired,' said Henry.
'Not a bit. I want my dinner, though. I expect you do too.'
The fiacre turned out of the avenue into the road.
The heavy gate clanged behind them.
'I was wondering, while I sat waiting,' said Adeline Price, 'whether there is anything else I can do for you. What are your plans?'
Henry turned to her in the darkness.
'Plans?' he said wearily. 'I have none.
What plans should I possibly have?'
The horse trotted down the cobbled stones. The driver cracked his whip. In the distance the sea broke upon the shore. He thought of the long train journey, the sea crossing, the house in Lancaster Gate, and Molly, and Kitty, and Hal, and the poor little lame Lizette. He felt very lonely, very tired.
'I suppose,' he said slowly, 'you wouldn't care to marry me, would you?'
