n to all their difficulties;
though Antonio alone had comprehended it.

CHAPTER XVIII

APPREHENDED

The pleasantest task which fell to Jessica's hands, during her hospital
life, was the distributing of flowers and fruits, almost daily sent by
the charitable for the comfort of the patients.

The nurses received and apportioned these gifts; and, carrying her big,
tray-like basket, Lady Jess visited each ward and room in turn, adding to
the pretty offering some bright word of her own. For she now had the
freedom of the house and knew the occupant of each white bed better,
even, than his or her attendant nurse. The quiet manner which she had
gained here, her ready help and loving sympathy, made her coming looked
for eagerly; but the happiness she thus bestowed was more than returned
upon her own heart. Could her "boys" have seen her they would have
been proud, but not surprised, for to the appreciative words his own
attendant gave his darling, Ephraim would instantly reply?

"'Course. What else could you expect? Didn't she have the finest man
in the world for her father? and isn't her mother a lady? Isn't she,
herself, the sweetest, lovingest, most unselfish child that ever lived?
But it'll be meat to feed the 'boys' with, all these stories you're
telling me. They most worship her now, and after they listen to such
talk a spell--h-m-m. The whole secret is just--love. That's what our
captain is made of; pure love. 'Twas a good thing for this old earth
when she was born."

"But you'll spoil her among you, I fear."

"Well, you needn't. Little Jessica Trent can't be spoiled. 'Cause
them same 'boys' would be the first ones to take any nonsense out of
her, at the first symptoms. She couldn't stand ridicule. It would break
her heart; but they'd give her ridicule and plenty of it if she put on
silly airs. You needn't be afraid for Lady Jess."

On that very day, after Antonio had left the hospital with his friends,
or captors, as the case might prove. Jessica went through the building
with her tray of roses, and in the wing adjoining the accident ward saw
a man lying in one of the hitherto empty rooms.

"A new patient. He must have been brought in to-day. I've never been
to the new ones till I was told, but I hate to pass him by. I wonder
if it would be wrong to ask him if he wished a flower! And how still
he stays. Yet his eyes are very wide open and so round! He looks like
somebody I've seen--why, little Luis Ga