fficult nor very
tiring--not half so hard as ordinary nursing. While the doctor was out
on a round of visits, she put the laboratory to rights, arranging
everything neatly and in perfect order, for that was of paramount
importance to her employer; then she attended to the small amount of
clerical work that fell to her task, answered the telephone, and made
appointments. In the afternoon there was a fairly steady stream of
patients for consultations, and she was kept moderately busy, yet with
frequent moments in which to sit down and read or "have a go" at her
French grammar.

The evenings at her hotel threatened to be a little dull; she did not
care to go alone to the Casino and, barring the cinema, there was not
much in the way of distraction. Still, she was far from regretting her
determination to stay in Cannes. She wrote long letters to her sisters
in Canada, to Miss Ferriss in Bousaada, to a certain young doctor in
New York, who for years had lavished on her an unrewarded devotion.
She thought of him dimly as belonging to another life. Already she had
slipped into new habits, fresh ways of thinking. She planned
excursions for Saturday afternoons and Sundays, meaning to see as much
of this country as possible while she had the chance.

"If only Jean were here, what fun we'd have!" she reflected regretfully.

Jean was her favourite sister, now a librarian in Montreal.

At the end of the week something happened. Late one afternoon a
patient arrived who had no appointment. Jacques admitted her, went up
to tell the doctor, who had thought consultations over for the day,
then, returning, spoke to Esther in the _salle a manger_.

"It is Lady Clifford," he whispered. "It is the second time now she
come like this. Always before, the doctor he go to her."

Esther knew the name, her book had told her that the doctor paid
regular visits to a Lady Clifford. She turned up the visits for the
next day. Yes, there it was, Thursday, Lady Clifford, 11.30.

She heard the doctor's heavy step on the stairs, so she hastily
replaced the crisp white coif she had removed a moment ago and repaired
to the salon. A slender woman was standing at the window looking out
and tapping her foot with nervous impatience. She was smartly dressed
in black, with a magnificent silver fox about her shoulders.

"Will you come this way, please," said Esther. "The doctor will see
you."

The woman turned suddenly and Esther received a s