At the end of the fourth, his fever had broken, but he was pronounced as yet too weak to be moved.
His nurse was a red-cheeked, blue-eyed, homely little Irish girl, brimming with motherly good-humor.

When Thorpe found strength to talk, the two became friends.

Through her influence he was moved to a bed about ten feet from the window.

Thence his privileges were three roofs and a glimpse of the distant river.
The roofs were covered with snow.

One day Thorpe saw it sink into itself and gradually run away.