his morning.

"Of course, and if we don't prove competent you are at liberty to send
us a nurse. But"--she spoke rather wistfully--"mayn't we try, Tochatti
and I? I would a thousand times sooner nurse Cherry myself than let a
stranger be with her."

Touched by something in her voice, remembering also the peculiar
position in which this woman stood--a wife without a husband, with no
one in the world, apparently, to care for her save her child--Anstice
yielded the point for the moment.

"Very well, then. We will try this arrangement first, and if Cherry goes
on well there will be no need to call in other help. Now I should like
to see Tochatti, and give you both instructions."

Without a word Chloe led him back to the smaller bedroom where Cherry
lay uneasily dozing; and Anstice beckoned to Tochatti to approach the
window.

She came forward rather sullenly; and Anstice, irritated by her manner,
spoke in rather a peremptory tone.

"Let me see your hands, please. I understand you were burnt last night."

Unwillingly the woman held out her left hand, which was wrapped round
with a roughly constructed bandage; and as Anstice took it and began to
unwind the folds he heard her draw in her breath with an odd little
hiss.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked, surprised, and the woman answered stolidly.

"No, thank you, sir. You did not hurt me at all."

Her manner struck him as peculiar; it almost seemed as though she
resented his efforts on her behalf; and as he unwrapped the last of the
bandage Anstice told himself she was by no means an attractive patient.

But when he saw her hand he forgave her all her peculiarities; for she
must have suffered untold pain during the hours which had elapsed since
the accident.

"I say--why didn't you show your hand to the doctor last night?" He
spoke impetuously, really shocked to see the extent of her burns. "You
have given yourself a lot of unnecessary pain, and it will take much
longer to heal. You must let me dress the place at once."

Assisted by Chloe, who fetched and carried for him deftly, he dressed
and bound up the burnt hand; and though the woman never flinched, there
was a look in her eyes which showed him she was enduring great pain.

"There." He finished his work and looked at her closely. "That will feel
easier soon. But you know you should lie down and try to sleep for an
hour or two--and that hand will be quite useless for some days. Really,
Mrs. Carstairs"--he turned