CHAPTER XVII.
PUPPETS.
Throughout the night Brother Bonaday hovered between life and death, nor until four days later did the doctor pronounce him out of danger--that is to say, for the time, since the trouble in his heart was really incurable, and at best the frail little man's remaining days could not be many.

Nurse Turner waited on him assiduously, always with her comfortable smile.

No trouble came amiss to her, and certainly Nurse Branscome herself could not have done better.
In a sense, too, Corona's first experiences of school-going befell her most opportunely.

They would distract her mind, Brother Copas reflected, and tore up the letter he had written delaying her noviciate on the ground of her father's illness.

They did; and, moreover, the head mistress of the Greycoats, old Miss Champernowne, aware that the child's father was ill, possibly dying, took especial pains to be kind to her.
Corona was dreadfully afraid her father would die.