hour or so, and no septic complications set in
later on, we'll have him on his feet in a few days. If you take Jean's
car you should be back in fifteen or twenty minutes. Go at once,
Vinailles."

"Very well," Vinailles agreed a little reluctantly--and left the room.

What did the doctor mean? Marie-Louise crept timidly around to the
opposite side of the bed where she could watch his face, and where she
could see Jean's face too. What did the doctor mean? If--if
everything went right, Jean would be well in a few days, but--but he
was in danger now. She questioned the grave face piteously with her
eyes--but received no response. The doctor was bending over Jean, and
did not look up.

The minutes passed, ten, fifteen perhaps, as she knelt there--and then
it seemed that she could not endure it any longer, and that all her
self-restraint was at an end.

"Jean!" she whispered--and because they were stronger than she, and
because she could keep them back no longer, the tears came in a flood,
and she reached out and caught Jean's hand that was outstretched on the
bed, and held it between both her own, and buried her face between her
own two arms.

She felt the doctor's hand laid gently on her shoulder.

"Do not give way, mademoiselle," he said soothingly. "Courage! We
shall win, I promise you."

She grew quieter after a little while--and again she tried to think.
They had sent for Mademoiselle Bliss, and very soon mademoiselle would
be here. It was the mademoiselle who had spoken to her so sharply that
day because she had not put on her shoes and stockings.... Hector had
said that Mademoiselle Bliss and Jean were to marry ... and--and that
was what the doctor had just said to Monsieur Vinailles ... and--and so
it was true. And what then? What--if Mademoiselle Bliss found her
here? She would do Mademoiselle Bliss no harm to stay here! Her hands
closed tighter over the one in her grasp. How cold Jean's hand was!
What would she do--what would she do? She did not want to go, it
seemed so hard to go, and it was so little to ask, so little out of all
her life, just to stay there and kneel beside Jean and hold his hand,
and--she raised her head, quickly, suddenly. The hand in hers twitched
a little, there came a half moan, half gasp, and then Jean's voice,
mumbling, wandering, reached her.

"Gaston, see, we are back! Put your arms around my neck, _mon brave_,
and I will lift you up, and--" The words grew