#ifndef NODE_H
#define NODE_H

#include <cstdlib>

/**
 * This is a somewhat artificial class, designed specifically to
 * support the 'merge' assignment.  It provides a node in a
 * doubly-linked list of integers, yet with the constructors
 * intentionally made private so that new nodes cannot be instantiated
 * (other than by friend class).
 */

  class Node {
  public:
    const int element;
    Node*  prev;
    Node*  next;
  private:
    Node(int e = -1, Node* p = NULL, Node* n = NULL)
      : element(e), prev(p), next(n) { }        // constructor
    friend class ListReader;                   // allow access to private member
  };
  typedef Node* NodePtr;


#endif