meant so well as I put it down here. She had never been to school,
and had heard very little else than vulgar speech until she
came to the hospital. But I have been to school, and although
that could never make me able to dream so well as Nanny, it has
made me able to tell her dream better than she could herself.
And I am the more desirous of doing this for her that I have already
done the best I could for Diamond's dream, and it would be a shame
to give the boy all the advantage.

"I will tell you all I know about it," said Nanny. "The day
before yesterday, a lady came to see us--a very beautiful lady,
and very beautifully dressed. I heard the matron say to her that it
was very kind of her to come in blue and gold; and she answered that she
knew we didn't like dull colours. She had such a lovely shawl on,
just like redness dipped in milk, and all worked over with flowers
of the same colour. It didn't shine much, it was silk, but it kept
in the shine. When she came to my bedside, she sat down, just where
you are sitting, Diamond, and laid her hand on the counterpane.
I was sitting up, with my table before me ready for my tea. Her hand
looked so pretty in its blue glove, that I was tempted to stroke it.
I thought she wouldn't be angry, for everybody that comes to the
hospital is kind. It's only in the streets they ain't kind.
But she drew her hand away, and I almost cried, for I thought I
had been rude. Instead of that, however, it was only that she
didn't like giving me her glove to stroke, for she drew it off,
and then laid her hand where it was before. I wasn't sure, but I
ventured to put out my ugly hand."

"Your hand ain't ugly, Nanny," said Diamond; but Nanny went on--