Веснянки

           Attheircommand,McLeanpickeduptheunwillingAngelandcarriedhertothenursestobebathed,haveherbruisesattended,andtobeputtobed.

           Inaplacewhereitisdifficulttosurprisepeople,theywereastonishedwomenastheyremovedtheAngel’sdaintystainedandtornclothing,drewoffhosemuck-bakedtoherlimbs,soakedthedriedloamfromhersilkenhair,andwashedthebeautifulscratched,bruised,dirt-coveredbody.TheAngelfellfastasleeplongbeforetheyhadfinished,andlaydeeplyunconscious,whilethefightforFreckles’lifewasbeingwaged.

           ThreedayslatershewasthesameAngelasofold,exceptthatFreckleswasconstantlyinherthoughts.Theanxietyandresponsibilitythatshefeltforhisconditionhadbredinheratouchofwomanlinessandauthoritythatwasnew.ThatmorningshearoseearlyandhoverednearFreckles’door.Shehadbeenallowedtoremainwithhimconstantly,forthenursesandsurgeonshadlearned,withhisreturningconsciousness,thatforheralonewouldtheactive,highlystrung,pain-rackedsuffererbequietandobeyorders.Whenshewasdroppingfromlossofsleep,thethreatthatshewouldfallillhadtobeusedtosendhertobed.ThenbytellingFrecklesthattheAngelwasasleepandtheywouldwakenherthemomenthemoved,theywereabletocontrolhimforashorttime.

           ThesurgeonwaswithFreckles.TheAngelhadbeentoldthatthewordhebroughtthatmorningwouldbefinal,soshecurledinawindowseat,droppedthecurtainsbehindher,andindireanxiety,waitedtheopeningofthedoor.