and I don't want you to be tired. Have a
shave?"

"No, no; there's nothing to shave."

"Nothing! call that nothing? Why, I've known gents to go and be shaved
reg'lar with not half your beard. Well, I'll let you off for another
day or two but I must touch up those finger-nails."

Dick made a gesture, but it was all in vain. Almost before he knew it,
Jerry had laid aside towel, brushes, and basin, and begun upon the
nails, which he trimmed with wonderful dexterity, commenting the while
on things in general.

"Look here," he said: "if you want to keep things quiet, you'd better
wear your hands in your pockets. Nobody as knows anything would believe
your name's Smithson, if he sees your hands."

"Why?" said Dick, who felt half-amused.

"'Cause there's so much breed about your nails. `Gift on the finger's
sure to linger; gift on the thumb is sure to come.' Do you know he
calls and sees Miss Deane and her aunt?"

"Mr Lacey?--of course."

"I didn't mean him. Lookers-on see most of the game. Wonder what Mr
Lacey would say if I was to tell him all I know."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing, sir. I dunno what he'd say; but I think I know what he'd
do--scrunch Mr Mark like a walnut in a door-hinge!"

"Look here, I don't want to hear any scandal, Jerry. There, that will
do! I'll give you a shilling as soon as I have one."

"Thank ye; but don't. Keep it saved up for me, till I can say _sir_ to
you proper. When are you going to begin?"

The coming of the hospital attendant with Dick's dinner interrupted the
conversation; and that afternoon, as he sat by the open window, with the
bouquet of flowers before him and a book, there was a rustling of silk
on the stairs--loud, heavy steps, quiet and light steps as well--and
directly after the door was opened, and Lacey, looking proud and happy,
ushered Miss Deane into the room.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

A STARTLING FACT.

That event was the turning-point in Dick Smithson's long illness; and
the words said to him by Anna Deane at her visit convinced him that
there was something worth living for, even if it was only to have won
the respect and friendship of the lady whom he judged now to be the
lieutenant's betrothed.

"I knew it," Jerry said, with a good, open smile, as he was finishing
Dick's toilet. "Nobody knows till they try it what virtue there is in a
shampoo."

That was some few days later, when the lieutenant's servant had gone to
the hospital,