The nurse, besides being a kind motherly woman who dearly loved children, was also a person of strong common sense, and hence she saw Joe's difficulty in a moment "You have no children of your own, I suppose?" she said.
"I had a son once," said Joe. "I hope he's still living."
"You do not love him, of course?"
In a moment Joe was on his feet.
"Love him!" said Joe, trembling from head to foot. "I'd lie down an' die for him this blessed moment if it would do him good."
"Ah! he has been a very good son, I expect," said the nurse.
Joe sat down again, and hid his face in his hands. After awhile he looked up and said with evident emotion—
"No, he was what people would call a bad son—a very bad 'un."
"Then if he were to come home again, you certainly would close the door against him?"
"Close the door agin him! Close the door agin my own child, my own flesh and blood ! Why, I've been longing for years for him to come home. I wish he'd try me, he should have the best of everything I've got in the house. Oh, marcy! how my poor old heart 'ud ache with joy if he were to come to-night."
Joe had got quite excited while delivering himself of this long speech. So the nurse said quietly,—
