s" to Rachel, as he saw her eyes light up with admiration at the
Doctor's tactful kindliness, "than all the drugs in the dispensary. I
sometimes believe he's one of them that can cure by a simple laying-on
of hands. He's just the opposite of old Moxon, who'd counteract the
effect of the best medicine in the world."

"No. 19, Quin. Sulph., grains 16; make four powders, one every three
hours," continued "Squills," repeating the directions as he received
them, "Spiritus Frumenti, 1 oz., at evening. No. 2 diet. No. 20, Dover's
powder 10 grains, at bedtime. No 1 diet. You," addressing himself to
Rachel again, "will do even better than Dr. Denslow, soon. Can't you see
how the mere sight of you brightens up everybody around here?"

Rachel had no reply ready for so broad a compliment, but its assertion
of her high usefulness went far to reconcile her to her position.

She wondered silently if her mission was to be confined to posing as a
thing of beauty and a joy forever.

This differed much from her expectations, for she dreaded at each step
lest the next bring her fact to face with some horrible task, which she
would be expected to undertake. But the Doctor, with his usual tact, was
almost imperceptibly inducting her into her duties.

"Would Miss Bond kindly shake this powder into that cup of water and
give it to that boy?"

She did so, and was rewarded by the recipient's grateful look, as he
said:

"It don't seem at all nasty when YOU give it to me."

"Would she hand that one this bit of magnesia for his heartburn?"

It was a young Irishman, who received the magnesia with a gallant
speech:

"Faith, your white fingers have made it swater than loaf-sugar."

Rachel colored deeply, and those within hearing laughed.

At the next cot a feverish boy tossed wearily. Rachel noticed the
uncomfortable arrangement of the folded blanket which did duty as a
pillow. She stepped quickly to the head of the cot, took the blanket
out, refolded it with a few deft, womanly motions, and replaced it with
a cool surface uppermost.

"O, that is SO good," murmured the boy, half-unclosing his eyes. "It's
just as mother would've done."

Dr. Denslow looked earnest approval.

Rachel began to feel an interest kindling in her work. It was not in a
womanly nature to resist this cordial appreciation of all she did.

A few cots farther on a boy wanted a letter written home. She was
provided with stationary, and taking her place by the side