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Show 142 I said to the others, see how his throat is bruised and swollen? It will be a long time before he is able to tell us what has brought him here." Stiffly, looking as fragile as a shard of glass, she raised herself to her feet. "Now I will go and tell the others that Albert has really come back to us." Then they were all around my bed, the six of them, holding my hands and shyly patting my cheeks, for now I was taller than the lot of them. They propped me up and handed me a bowl of broth which I was able to drink very slowly, not without pain. But still I had no voice. After another week I grew stronger and was able to sit for short periods in the convent garden. At last I could manage a hoarse whisper, and I told Sister Perpetua first, and the others later, what had happened in Hamelin. "The girl," Sister Perpetua said, clacking her tongue and shaking her head at me, "you left her blind and helpless on the road?" "What could I do?" I whispered, flushing. "It is too late to worry about what you should have done then, but I knew what you should do as soon as you are strong enough. Go back to Hamelin and see if she is safe." "They'll kill me." "Do you really think they would?" Sister Perpetua peered at me through her faded eyes, and when I nodded vigorously, her expression grew worried. "Then of course you must not go back if your life would |
