am possibly to
get the ward in order for the night unless I have some help."

"I must speak to her," said Sister Kate, glancing at the clock, and
looking a little annoyed. "This wasn't her Sunday to go out, either. I
cannot let the rules be broken in this way. Let me know as soon as ever
she comes in."

"I suppose there's some excuse to be made for her," said the nurse,
speaking in a knowing way. "She's a very careful, good sort of girl, but
there _are_ times when the best of us forget ourselves."

The woman knew that Sister Kate would interpret her words as she wished
her to do. She went off in a hurry to perform her duties, and when Effie
entered the ward, Sister Kate received her with marked coldness.

"You are very late, nurse," she said. "Where have you been?"

"I have been at home with my mother."

"Was your mother ill? Is that your excuse for being behind your time?"

"No; mother was well--better than she has been for some time."

"Then why are you late?"

"The fact is, I was walking with a friend, and forgot to notice the
hour."

"That's no excuse. You have certainly behaved very carelessly, and have
put the other nurses out by not being in time to take your duties. Who
was the friend with whom you were walking?"

Sister Kate had no right to ask this question, but she felt much
provoked at the moment, and the color which rushed all over Effie's face
excited her curiosity.

"Perhaps you'll think I did wrong," said Effie, looking up at her almost
defiantly. "The friend was Mr. Lawson. He knows my brother very well; he
was talking to me about him. I cannot refuse to speak to him when I see
him out of doors, can I?"

"Don't be pert, nurse! You know it is one of the strictest rules of the
hospital that none of the nurses are to speak to the medical students."

"I know; and I don't wish to speak to him in the hospital."

"See you don't, or you'll be dismissed at once; in fact, the less you
know of any of the medical students, the better for you. I am very sorry
that this young man knows your brother. I should not have had anything
to do with you, had I been aware of this fact."

"How absurd and unjust!" murmured Effie under her breath. She turned
away--she felt absolutely cross.

Sister Kate called her back.

"Now, bustle about," she said. "The supper-trays want to be taken away;
the women are perfectly tired of waiting to be settled for the night."

Effie moved mechanically about her duties. H