"You'll look after him if anything does happen, won't you?" The woman's
eyes were pleading with her. They seemed to have grown larger. "You
know what I mean, dear, don't you?" she continued. "It will be such a
comfort to me to know that it's all right."
In answer the tears sprang to Joan's eyes. She knelt down and put her
arms about the woman.
"Don't be so silly," she cried. "There's nothing going to happen. You're
going to get fat and well again; and live to see him Prime Minister."
"I am getting thin, ain't I?" she said. "I always wanted to be thin."
They both laughed.
"But I shan't see him that, even if I do live," she went on. "He'll
never be that, without you. And I'd be so proud to think that he would.
I shouldn't mind going then," she added.
Joan did not answer. There seemed no words that would come.
"You will promise, won't you?" she persisted, in a whisper. "It's only
'in case'--just that I needn't worry myself."
Joan looked up. There was something in the eyes looking down upon her
that seemed to be compelling her.
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