"First my husband, and then poor Lucas, that's my eldest boy.

But Lucas won't have me to wait on him now.

He doesn't like his mother to see him in his bad hours, and they are mighty bad now and then.

So my nursing talents would run to seed if it weren't for a casual patient like yourself." It was so evident that she enjoyed her self-appointed task that Anne could only smile and thank her.

She was helpless as an infant and could not have refused her hostess's ministrations even had she desired to do so.