The fussy ones had fits of apathy, when the poor irritable patients seemed to get a little better; the negligent ones had paroxysms of attentiveness, when their invalids, accustomed to loneliness and neglect, seemed to become rather worse by being worried.
To remonstrate with the caretakers would have been folly: for they were well satisfied with their own methods.
To contrive their departure would have been an impossibility: for they were firmly convinced that their presence was necessary to the welfare of their charges.

And then, too, judging from the way in which they managed to amuse themselves, they liked being in Petershof, though they never owned that to the invalids.

On the contrary, it was the custom for the caretakers to depreciate the place, and to deplore the necessity which obliged them to continue there month after month.

They were fond, too, of talking about the sacrifices which they made, and the pleasures which they willingly gave up in order to stay with their invalids.

They said this in the presence of their invalids.