e window as I sat at draughts once more with Coplestone, because it
was a Saturday afternoon and Ronnie was not quite so well.

"This must be for Nurse Agnes," I said innocently. "It seems a pity she
should go so soon."

"But she's not going yet!" cried Coplestone, upsetting the board. "She's
going this evening; the other nurse told me she was. Of course I've got
to see her before she goes!"

"I fancy that's her cab," said I, unwilling to give Delavoye away, but
feeling much more strongly that Nurse Agnes had saved Ronnie's life.

"I didn't hear the bell," said Coplestone.

"Still, I believe that's Nurse Agnes on the stairs."

I had heard one creak, but only one, and the nurse was on tip-toe
outside the door as Coplestone opened it. She might have been a thief,
she seemed so startled.

"Why, nurse, what do you mean by trying to give me the slip?" he said in
his hearty voice. "Do you know they all tell me you've saved my little
chap's life, and yet I've hardly seen you all the time? You'd always
fixed him up for the night by the time I'd finished dinner, and I've
been so late in the morning that we've kept on missing each other at
both ends. You've got to spare me a moment now, you know!"

But Nurse Agnes would only stand mumbling and smiling in the half-lit
hall.

"I--I mustn't lose my train," was all I heard.

And then I realised that even I had only heard her voice once before,
and that now it did not sound the same voice. It was not meant to sound
the same--that was why--I had it in a flash. And in that flash I saw
that Nurse Agnes had been keeping out of our way all these days and
nights, keeping us out of her way by a dozen tacit little regulations
which had seemed only proper and professional at the time.

But a fiercer light had struck Coplestone like a lash across the eyes.
And he started back as though stung and blinded, until Nurse Agnes tried
to dart past the door; then his long arm shot out, and I shuddered as he
dragged her in by hers.

"You!" he gasped, and his jaw worked as though he had been knocked out
in the ring.

"Yes," she said coolly, facing him through her veil; "and they're quite
right--I've saved your boy for you. Do you mind letting me go?"

I forced my way past the pair of them, and rushed out to Delavoye
waiting with the cab.

"Who is she? Who on earth is this nurse of yours?" I cried without
restraint.

He drew me out of earshot of the cab-man.

"Has Coplestone spotted