in his wan face, close-shut eyes,
and grim mouth almost frightened her.

"I want to sleep," he said briefly. "Draw down the shades."

The night nurse became a staple joke between her and Huntter.

"Lord!" he exclaimed one day as Priscilla entered; "you're like the
morning: clear, fresh, and hopeful. Do you know, that to escape the
nightmare that haunts my chamber after you go, I have to play sleep even
if I'm dying with thirst or blue devils? She's religious! Think of a
nurse with religion that she feels compelled to share with a sick man!
I'm going to get up to-day, Miss Glynn. I've bullied Hapgood into giving
permission, and I've done him one better. I'm going to have a visitor!
I'm back from Bermuda, you know. After you've fixed me up--isn't it a
glorious day?--open the windows, and--I've ordered a lot of flowers.
Put them in those brass bowls. My visitor is a lady. She likes yellow
roses. By the way, Miss Glynn, Doctor Hapgood tells me that you've been
in--Bermuda, too? Thorough old disciplinarian he! You must have been
lonely. And you leave me next week? I want to thank you. I shall thank
you ceremoniously every time you enter after this. You've been--a good
nurse and a--good friend. I couldn't say more, now could I?"

"No, Mr. Huntter. And you've been--a very brave man! I know you will
always be that, and make light of it. I rather like the half-joking way
you do your kindest things. Here are the flowers! Oh, what beauties!"

Priscilla turned from helping Huntter and began arranging the glorious
mass of roses in the brass bowls.

"What time is it, Miss Glynn?"

"Eleven o'clock."

"And my friend is due at eleven-thirty. She will be here on the minute.
I feel like a boy, Miss Glynn. One gets the doldrums being alone and
convalescing. How the grim devils catch and hold you while they try to
distort life! I must have been a sad trial to you, but I'm myself again.
Tell me, honest true, Miss Glynn, just how have I come out in your
estimation? A man is no hero to his valet. What is he to his trained
nurse?"

"You have been very patient and considerate." Priscilla's back was turned
to Huntter; her face was quivering.

"Negative virtues! Had I been a brute you would have gone. I might have
had the night nurse for twenty-four hours. I dared not run the risk of
letting you go."

"I've come out pretty well in _your_ estimation? That's a feather in my
nice, white cap," she said.

"I wonder why I care what you th