The woman sat down and looked at her. "John wanted to come. But I told
him to stay home," she said.
"Much better," replied Aunt Jane, nodding.
"I told him he'd better kind of make supper for the children. So if they
should miss me!" The look was wistful.
Aunt Jane regarded it comfortably.
"All the happier, when you get back home." She had seated herself in a
large chair and she rocked a little.
The woman's face relaxed.
She looked about her more happily. "It seems kind of like home, don't
it? I didn't think a hospital would be like this--not just like this. I
don't seem to mind being here," she said with a little note of surprise.
"You won't mind it," said Aunt Jane. "You'll like it. Everybody likes
it. Maybe you won't want to go away."
The woman smiled faintly. "I guess I shall be ready to go--when the time
comes," she added slowly.... "There's one thing I wanted to ask somebody
about--it's about paying-- How much it will be, you know? I asked the
doctor once--when he said I'd have to come, but he didn't tell me--not
really."
"Dr. Carmon doesn't think so much about his pay." There was something
almost like pride in Aunt Jane's voice. "You needn't be afraid he'll
overcharge for it."
"It isn't that--only maybe we _couldn't_ pay," said the woman. Her
forehead held little wrinkled lines and her face smiled. "And it don't
seem quite right to be done--if we can't pay for it."
Aunt Jane rocked a minute. Her eyes travelled to the door leading to the
front room. The door was ajar and through the crack there was a glimpse
of a light overcoat lying carelessly across the chair. It had a silk
lining.