er heart felt sick. She did
not think she could remain much longer under Sister Kate's care. "If she
treats me like this," thought the proud girl, "I cannot endure it. Mr.
Lawson is nothing to me--he is only my brother's friend. He is good, and
wants to help us in an hour of great perplexity. What shall I do? I feel
tied and fettered in every way."

She laid her head on her pillow only to burst into tears. She cried
herself to sleep. All the world seemed black to her.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Effie saw very little of Dorothy Fraser, but on the following day, to
her great surprise and pleasure, as she was leaving the dining-hall,
Dorothy came up and spoke to her.

"You have a minute to spare," she said; "just come out on this balcony
and talk to me."

Effie obeyed her.

"What do you want with me, Dorothy?" she asked.

"I wish to know why you look so pale and worried--you seem to have
displeased Sister Kate, too."

Effie very nearly burst into tears, but she restrained herself.

"I'll tell you what it is," she said. "It is the most unjust thing!"

She then mentioned in as few words as possible the circumstance of
Lawson having spoken to her--of her great anxiety about George--and of
her having walked back with the young medical student from her home on
the previous evening.

Dorothy looked very grave while Effie was speaking.

"It is unfortunate," she said. "This is just the sort of thing that
injures a girl at the commencement of her hospital life."

"But it is so ridiculous and unjust," said Effie. "What in the world can
Mr. Lawson be to me?"

"Oh, nothing, of course, my dear," replied Dorothy. "But still the rules
cannot be too strict on this point. You know I am not a prude, but all
girls are not like you, Effie; and, in short, Sister Kate is in the
right. Someone must have seen you walking back with Mr. Lawson, and must
have told her, or hinted, at least, at the state of the case. Nothing
else would have induced her to question you."

"She had no right to speak to me about acquaintances that I meet out of
the hospital."

"Strictly speaking, she has no right; that's why I say she must have got
a hint."

"Oh, well, never mind her," said Effie. "I won't speak to Mr. Lawson
again, unless I meet him out of doors, where I can, and shall, whatever
Sister Kate may say."

"Effie, you must be careful."

"I don't want to think of myself at all. Can't you see how miserable I
am about my mother and about