Never a parlour-maid would he allow to approach me when I was unwell.

I often wondered what would happen if I were really ill and required the attendance of a nurse.

I swear no nurse's touch could be so gentle as when he raised me on the pillows.

He bent over the tray on the table by the bed and began to dissect out the back-bone of the sole.
"I can do that," said I, fretfully.
He cocked a solitary reproachful eye on me.

I burst out laughing.