The Hospital

"You see who has come to look after you?"

"It isn't Daisy!" he cried.

"How do you do, Preston?" I said, taking hold of the hand
which lay upon the coverlid. He drew the hand hastily away,
half raising himself on his elbow.

"What have you come here for?" he asked.

"I have come to take care of you."

"You," said Preston. "In this place! Where is mamma?"

"Aunt Gary is far away from here. She could not get to you."

"But you, you were in Switzerland."

"Not since last May."

"Lie down, Gary, and take it quietly," said Dr. Sandford,
putting his hand on his shoulder. Preston scowled and
submitted, without taking his eyes from my face.

"You are not glad to see me?" I asked, feeling his manner a
little awkward.

"Of course not. You ought not to be in this place. What have
you got on that rig for?"

"What rig?"

"That! I suppose you don't dress so at home, do you? You
didn't use it. Hey? what is it for?"

"It is that I may be properly dressed. Home things would be
out of place here."

"Yes; so I think," said Preston; "and you most of all. Where
is Aunt Randolph?"

"You do not seem very grateful, Gary," said the doctor, who
all this while stood by with an impenetrable countenance.

"Grateful - for what?"

"For your cousin's affection and kindness, which has come here
to look after you."

"I am not grateful," said Preston. "I shall not have her
stay."