Instead of her having to take care of herself, kind hands ministered to her, making her comfortable and sweet and clean, soothing her aching head, and giving her cooling drink when she was thirsty; and kind eyes, the stars of the kingdom of heaven, had shone upon her; so that, what with the fire of the fever and the dew of tenderness, that which was coarse in her had melted away, and her whole face had grown so refined and sweet that Diamond did not know her.

But as he gazed, the best of the old face, all the true and good part of it, that which was Nanny herself, dawned upon him, like the moon coming out of a cloud, until at length, instead of only believing Mr.Raymond that this was she, he saw for himself that it was Nanny indeed--very worn but grown beautiful.
He went up to her.

She smiled.

He had heard her laugh, but had never seen her smile before.
"Nanny, do you know me ?" said Diamond.
She only smiled again, as if the question was amusing.
She was not likely to forget him; for although she did not yet know it was he who had got her there, she had dreamed of him often, and had talked much about him when delirious.

Nor was it much wonder, for he was the only boy except Joe who had ever shown her kindness.
Meantime Mr.Raymond was going from bed to bed, talking to the little people.