he had said casually, "is bound to be a long and a
ticklish business." The words had given her a rush
of joy of which she felt ashamed.

There came a knock at the door, and then the
younger of Jervis's nurses came quietly into the room.
"They're asking for you downstairs, Miss Otway,"
she said quietly. "And I think that perhaps Mr.
Blake might now get a little sleep. He's had a rather
tiring, exciting morning, you know. Perhaps you
could come up and have tea with him about five
o'clock? He's sure to be awake by then."

And then the young nurse did a rather odd thing.
Instead of going on into the room and up to the bedside,
she went out of the door for a moment, and
Rose, during that moment, bent down and laid her
soft cheek against Jervis's face. "Good-bye, my darling
Jervis. I shan't be away long." And then she
straightened herself, and went out of the room.

Of course she was happy -- happy, and with a heart
at rest as it had not been for months and months.
But still it would be a great comfort when Jervis was
up. She hated to see him lying there, helpless, given
over to ministrations other than her own.

As she went through the door, the nurse stopped
her and said, "Would you go into Mr. Robey's study,
Miss Otway? I think Sir John Blake wants to see
you before he goes back to town. Mr. Jenkinson has
already gone; he had to be there for a consultation
at six."

Rose looked at her, a little surprised. It was as
if the kind little nurse was speaking for the sake of
speaking.

She went down the quiet house, past the door of

[[248]]

p247 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p248w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p249

v?