'Or I?' said Conroy. 'But it's Nurse that's saving us really.'
'Then thank her,' said Miss Henschil, looking straight at him. 'Yes, I would. She'd like it.'
When Nurse Blaber came back after the parting at Templecombe her nose and her eyelids were red, but, for all that, her face reflected a great light even while she sniffed over _The Cloister and the Hearth_.
Miss Henschil, deep in a house furnisher's catalogue, did not speak for twenty minutes. Then she said, between adding totals of best, guest, and servants' sheets, 'But why should our times have been the same, Nursey?'
'Because a child is born somewhere every second of the clock,' Nurse Blaber answered. 'And besides that, you probably set each other off by talking and thinking about it. You shouldn't, you know.'
'Ay, but you've never been in Hell,' said Miss Henschil.
The telegram handed in at Hereford at 12.46 and delivered to Miss Henschil on the beach of a certain village at 2.7 ran thus:
'"_Absolutely confirmed. She says she remembers hearing noise of accident in engine-room returning from India eighty-five._"'
'He means the year, not the thermometer,' said Nurse Blaber, throwing pebbles at the cold sea.
'"_And two men scalded thus explaining my hoots._" (The idea of telling me that!) "_Subsequently silly clergyman passenger ran up behind her calling for joke, 'Friend, all is lost,' thus accounting very words._"'
'"_She says only remembers being upset minute or two. Unspeakable relief. Best love Nursey, who is jewel. Get out of her what she would like best._" Oh, I oughtn't to have read that,' said Miss Henschil.
'It doesn't matter. I don't want anything,' said Nurse Blaber, 'and if I did I shouldn't get it.'
There was darkness under Heaven For an hour's space-- Darkness that we knew was given Us for special grace. Sun and moon and stars were hid, God had left His Throne, When Helen came to me, she did, Helen all alone!
Side by side (because our fate Damned us ere our birth) We stole out of Limbo Gate Looking for the Earth. Hand in pulling hand amid Fear no dreams have known, Helen ran with me, she did, Helen all alone!
When the Horror passing speech Hunted us along, Each laid hold on each, and each Found the other strong. In the teeth of things forbid And Reason overthrown, Helen stood by me, she did, Helen all alone!