''Here you are,'' she said. And then, when I did nothing: ''Come on. You''ve hands, haven''t you? Let''s see you wash.''
The water was cold. I wet my face and arms, then made to wash my feet.
''That will do,'' she said, when she saw me do that. ''Do you think Dr Christie cares how dusty your toes are? Here, now. Let''s see your linen.'' She caught hold of the hem of my shimmy, then turned her head to Nurse Spiller, who nodded. ''Good, ain''t it? Too good for
this house. That''ll boil up to nothing, that will.'' She gave it a tug. ''You take that off, dear. We shall keep it, quite safe, against the day you leave us.—What, are you shy?''
''Shy?'' said Nurse Spiller, yawning. ''Don''t waste our time. And you, a married lady.''
''I ain''t married,'' I said. ''And I''ll thank you both to keep your hands off my linen. I want my own gown back, and my stockings and shoes. I need only speak with Dr Christie, and then you''ll be sorry.''
They looked at me and laughed.
''Hoity-toity!'' cried the dark nurse. She wiped her eyes. ''Dear me. Come, now. It''s no use growing sulky. We must have your linen—it''s nothing to me and Nu