May I come in ?" "Yes, please." Jessie turned the handle very carefully.

She felt painfully shy now that she was actually here, but it was too late to turn back, so she sidled in around the door, wondering very much what she should see, and what she should say.
What she saw was an untidy room with a small bed in it, and a large window just opposite the bed.

There were a few fairly good pieces of furniture in it as well, but the whole place looked neglected, untidy and comfortless.

Jessie did not notice this so much just at first, though, for the little figure in the bed claimed most of her attention.
Charlie was really of the same age as herself, but he was so thin and worn and helpless, he looked much younger, and his pale little face wore something of the appealing look of a baby.
A great, great pity for him swelled up in Jessie's heart, and drove out most of her shyness.

"I am _so_ sorry you are ill," she said sympathetically.