shed. "But I didn't do anything.

"Nothing at all, except keep cool and hold steady. Those are the hardest
things a surgeon can set a novice at, you know."

"But you needed me; and Mrs. Fields was out. You didn't know that, but I
did. And I don't think I'm one of the fainting-away kind."

"No, you can stand fire. I think sometimes--do you know what I think?"

Charlotte waited, her cheeks warm in the darkness. Praise is always
sweet when one has earned it.

"I believe you would stand by a friend--to the last ditch."

Charlotte was silent for a minute; then she answered, low and honestly,
"If he were a friend at all worth having I should try."

"And expect the same loyalty in return?"

"Indeed I should."

"I should like," said Doctor Churchill's steady voice, "to try a
friendship like that--an acknowledged one. I always was a fellow who
liked things definite. I don't like to say to myself, 'I think that man
is my friend--I'm sure he is--he shows it.' No, I want him to say so--to
shake hands on it. I had such a friend once--the only one. When he died
I felt I had lost--I can't tell you what, Miss Charlotte. I never had
another."

There was a long silence this time. The figure in the hammock lay still.
But Charlotte's heart was beating hard. She knew already that Doctor
Churchill was the warm friend of the family. Could he mean to single her
out as the special object of his regard--her, Charlotte--when people
like Lanse and Celia were within reach?

Charlotte rose to her feet, the doctor rising with her. She held out her
hand, and he could see that she was looking steadily up at him. He gazed
back at her, and a bright smile broke over his face.

"Do you mean it?" he said, eagerly. "Oh, thank you!"

He grasped the firm young hand as Charlotte fancied he might have
grasped that of the comrade he had lost.

"Can't we take a little walk in this glorious moonlight?" he asked,
happily. "Just up and down the block once or twice? Or are you too
tired?"

Charlotte was not too tired; her weariness had vanished as if by magic.
The two strolled slowly up and down the quiet street, talking earnestly.
The doctor told his companion about several interesting cases he had
among the children, and of one little crippled boy upon whom he had
recently operated. The girl listened with an unaffected interest and
sympathy very grateful to the man who had long missed companionship of
that sort. An hour went by as if on wings.

C