Chapter 18: Mrs. Froster's Room

The night nurse met them at the door of the Ainsley Ward in her socks.

"She isn't waking," she said at once. "I don't want you to hope too hard.

"But her pulse jumped, and her breathing tried to start on its own, twice. The doctor wants to watch her."

Casper nodded.

He kept nodding all the way down the corridor, and Felix kept hold of his sleeve.

Mrs. Froster lay as she always lay, small and neat under the white blanket.

Her brown hair, going grey at the temples, was combed back from her forehead.

Casper pulled up the chair and took her hand.

Felix stood at the foot of the bed.

He had never come in here without Casper, and he had never come in with nothing to do.

"Sit," Casper whispered. "You've been on your feet for two days."

"I'm fine."

"You're green. Sit down."

Felix sat on the second chair.

The monitor ticked steadily.

For a long time nobody said anything, and a bird began to sing outside the window in the dark.

At half past four the doctor came and checked the numbers and went away again without a word.

"She used to read to me when I was ill," Casper said, so quietly the machine nearly covered it.

"What did she read?"

"Seed catalogues, mostly. She had a garden once. Before the accident she wanted to open a nursery."

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