He strode on. It was all she could do to keep up with him. His anxiety was to get where he might be of help. He forgot; he had had so little to do with women.
They reached the bungalow. Divested themselves of their outdoor garments in the hall. The house was so quiet, Death himself might have been in possession. It struck an unpleasant chill to the new comer.
Gracie was sitting up in bed, propped up by the pillows. Masters gave a sigh of relief: they were not too late. Death might be knocking at the door, but had not yet been admitted.
The child looked expectantly at the door as her mother opened it. Her cheeks and eyes were bright with the fever in them. Then the expectant look mellowed into a smile. She had seen the man behind!
"Of course you did! Knew I should come when I knew you wanted me. I shouldn't have been much of a Prince Charlie if I hadn't, should I?"
Masters sat on the bed with his back against the headrail. Put his arm round the little one and snuggled her to him. She nestled up to him with a croon--a little grunting ejaculation of content--as he tucked the clothes closely round her. Did not seem to desire to talk, was just simply happy in having him there. He inquired:
He was grieved to feel how she had fallen away. How, in a few days, she had grown so thin. For the mother's and child's sakes, he made no outward manifestation of his grief: expressed no surprise. He felt that his mission just then was to brighten, not to shed gloom. Spoke jestingly:
"Now that Prince Charlie is here, what have you to say to his royal highness? Nothing?"
"Yes. That you were married to me; that you were my husband."
"Did you? Now that was something like a dream! What sort of husband did I make?"
"I don't know. You see the dream didn't last long enough."
"That was a bad job! Because if you had liked me in the dream, you might have married me later on."
"I thought that." She spoke quite gravely. "But you see I know I should like you as a husband."
"Who asks? Do you say to me 'marry me,' or do I say to you 'marry me'?"
"M'well, that depends. I really don't think it would matter much; which ever way you like best."
"Of course, you would marry me if I asked you? What do I have to do--kneel down, like the Prince in Cinderella?"