used. 'A bad name--is it unwholesome?' she asked; and I
explained that traditions credited it with a sinister influence. 'In
fact,' I said, 'it is supposed to be haunted. Not,' I added, 'that
anything has ever been seen, or heard in my lifetime; but nervous
people do not like that sort of room, and I should never take the
responsibility of putting anybody into it without telling them.' She
laughed. 'I'm not in the least afraid of ghosts, Sir Walter,' she said,
'and that must obviously be my room, if you please. It is necessary I
should be as near my patient as possible, so that I can be called at
once if her own nurse is anxious when I am not on duty.'

"Well, we saw, of course, that she was perfectly right. She was a
fearless little woman, and chaffed Masters and the maids while they
lighted a fire and made the room comfortable. As a matter of fact, it
is an exceedingly pleasant room in every respect. Yet I hesitated, and
could not say that I was easy about it. I felt conscious of a discomfort
which even her indifference did not entirely banish. I attributed it to
my acute anxiety over Mary--also to a shadow of--what? It may have
been irritation at Nurse Forrester's unconcealed contempt for my
superstition. The Grey Room is large and commodious with a rather fine
oriel window above our eastern porch. She was delighted, and rated me
very amusingly for my doubts. 'I hope you'll never call such a lovely
room haunted again after I have gone,' said she.

"Mary took to her, and really seemed easier after she had been in the
sick-room an hour. She loved young people, and had an art to win them.
She was also a most accomplished and quick-witted nurse. There seemed
to be quite a touch of genius about her. Her voice was melodious and her
touch gentle. I could appreciate her skill, for I was never far from
my daughter's side during that anxious day. Mrs. Forrester came at the
critical hours, but declared herself very sanguine from the first.

"Night fell; the child was sleeping and Jane Bond arrived to relieve the
other about ten o'clock. Then the lady retired, directed that she should
be called at seven o'clock, or at any moment sooner, if Jane wanted her.
I sat with Jane I remember until two, and then turned in myself. Before
I did so, Mary drank some milk and seemed to be holding her strength
well. I was worn out, and despite my anxiety fell into deep sleep, and
did not wake until my man called me half an hour earlier than us