d down to the ward below and
stepped to Claud's bed.

"I've seen her, and doesn't she look swate?"

"Who?" said Claud in a knowing way.

"Sybil, ye fathead! And, mind ye, mine's a kiss for bringing the news."

"Right, old chap; and I'll see that you get it," said the now excited
owner of this Australian girl's heart.

The boat was now alongside. Ropes were down and fixed. The shore
gangway was up, and, in response to the somewhat wild and frantic
shouts and grins of Paddy Doolan, Sybil Graham dashed up the steps
three at a time.

"Oh, Paddy!" she said, with tears in her eyes. "Where is he?"

"This way, ye darlint." And down into the ward leaped the now madly
excited Irishman. Sybil followed. As she reached the foot of the
stairs she saw her lover. Nurses, doctors, and patients were then
startled with a shriek of delight from a beautiful vision who pounced
to a bed and smothered her hero with kisses. Bill and Paddy watched it
all.

"Say, Miss Sybil, where do I come in?" said Bill with a sort of
well-feigned growl.

"Surely! There's _one_ for you, you dear, dear old bushman," she said,
kissing his black-bearded lips.

"Here, Sybil, isn't it Paddy's turn now? He brought the news of you."

"Oh, you lovable Irish rogue--you're worth the kissing--you helped my
boy to safety too." And so Paddy received his dues.

"And now, miss," said a smiling nurse, "we're going to take those three
lovers of yours to hospital in Cairo."

"How mean of you," said Sybil with a smile. "Of course, you can't
prevent me from seeing them there?"

"Certainly not, my girl. That will be the biggest part of their cure."

"Oh, by the way, I've news for you, boys," said Sybil, turning again:

"Bill, you've got the V.C."

"Paddy, you've got the V.C."

"Claud, you've got a commission."

"And you--eh?" smiled Claud.

"Well--yes."

"And very nice too," whispered a doctor into the nurse's ear as the
very happy girl went out.

CHAPTER XI

WHAT LADY READERS LIKE

(_Extract from Cairo Press_)

"At Shepheard's Hotel, Cairo, Lieutenant Claud Dufair, eldest son of
Lord Dufair, to Sybil Graham, daughter of "Bob" Graham, of New South
Wales. Private Bill Buster, V.C., and Private Doolan, V.C., acted as
groomsmen. Colonel Killem, D.S.O., also attended the ceremony. The
happy couple left for a three days' honeymoon, as Lieutenant Dufair is
returning to the trenches."

End of the Project Gutenb