ly; and I saw that he took me
for a philosopher.

He shuffled on almost beyond the circle of light, paused while my lips
moved in a vague smile of response, then moved on into the shadow. The
low, deep quiet of the corridor resumed its hold on me. The patter of
reflection in my brain proceeded undisturbed.

"You are like me!" The deepest flattery one creature pays its fellow ...
the cry which is uttered when another enters "our country."

Far down the corridor a slim figure in white approaches, dwarfed by the
smoky distance; her nun-like cap floating, her scarlet cape, the "cape
of pride," slipped round her narrow shoulders.

How intent and silent They are!

I watched this one pass with a look half-reverence, half-envy. One
should never aspire to know a Sister intimately. They are disappointing
people; without candour, without imagination. Yet what a look of
personality hangs about them....

To-night ... Mr. Pettitt: "Sister!"

"Yes, Mr. Pettitt."

"Do you ever go to theatres? Do you like them?"

At the risk of appearing unnatural, I said, "Not much."

"Oh ... I thought.... H'm, that's a pity. Don't you like revues?"

"Oh, yes...."

"I thought you'd take me to a _matinee_ one afternoon."

"Oh, charming! I can't get leave in the afternoons, though."

"You often have a day off."

"Yes, but it's too soon to ask for another."

"Well, how about Wednesday, then?"

"Too soon. Think of the new Sister, and her opinion of me! That has yet
to be won."

"Well, let me know, anyway...."

(Staved off!)

The new Sister is coming quite soon: she has a medal.

Now that I know _my_ Sister must go I don't talk to her much; I almost
avoid her. That's true hospital philosophy.

I must put down the beauty of the night and the woman's laugh in the
shadowy hedge....

I walked up from the hospital late to-night, half-past eight, and hungry
... in the cold, brilliant moonlight; a fine moon, very low, throwing
long, pointed shadows across the road from the trees and hedges.

As one climbs up there is a wood on the right, the remains of the old
wooded hill; sparse trees, very tall; and to-night a star between every
branch, and a fierce moon beating down on the mud and grass.

I had on my white cap and long blue coat, very visible. The moon swept
the road from side to side: lovers, acting as though it were night, were
lit as though it was day.

I turned into the wood to take a message to a house set back fro