as early in the
morning and really not very cold; you must not think I am altogether
without judgment. But now that I am safely here, you will take me with
you to Germany? Just think how far I have traveled for this chance! Your
other nurses have had their opportunity."

Two bright spots of color were at this moment glowing on the girl's
cheeks, her lips and eyes were eager as a child.

Nevertheless Sonya shook her head.

"I am sorry, Miss Jamison, but I'm afraid I can't promise anything. In
the first place, my husband has already made the choice of the Red Cross
nurses who are to form his unit. He selected his staff of nurses and
physicians last night. There is no time for delay. The division of
troops we are to serve leaves before dawn Sunday morning. The Red Cross
units will bring up the rear. We will probably move later on the same
morning. Don't think I am not sympathetic; why you must feel like the
last of our American troops who reached Chateau-Thierry the morning of
the armistice. Major Hersey told me it was difficult to keep them from
fighting, armistice, or no armistice. But you will be able to remain
here at the hospital for a time. We still have a number of the wounded
to be cared for and more than half the staff will stay behind."

The new nurse covered her eyes for a moment with her hands, they were
beautiful nurse's hands, with long slender, firm fingers.

"Mrs. Clark, I haven't any immediate family, the one person I cared for
and to whom I was engaged was killed here in the neighborhood of
Chateau-Thierry at one of the first engagements of the United States
troops. We had planned to do wonderful things with our life together
after the war was past and he was safely home. Now, I haven't the
courage, not for a time anyhow, to go on with what we hoped to do. I
must have work, change, movement. I am very strong, see how quickly I
have recovered from yesterday. To stay here at the hospital and work now
that the war is over would of course be better than going home at once.
But the hospital will be sure to close in a little time and the men sent
nearer the coast so as to be ready to sail as soon as they are able. May
I at least talk to Dr. Clark? Will you ask him to give me a few moments?
I shall be dressed in a little while and can come to his office."

Sonya rose up from her chair and stood hesitating a moment.

There was something in the girl's story, something in her face which was
oddly wistful and